5 players who deserve more opportunities at Manchester United

#3 Jesse Lingard

Manchester United v Newcastle United - Premier League

Jesse Lingard has already shown that he can help this Manchester United side. Lingard had an exceptional loan spell at West Ham in the second half of last season. He scored nine goals and provided five assists in 16 Premier League appearances for the Hammers in the 2020-21 season.

Lingard's directness and ball-carrying abilities have helped Manchester United gain some valuable points this term. He scored a late winner in the game against West Ham United. He then set up Cristiano Ronaldo for the all-important last-minute winner against Villarreal in the Champions League.

Lingard offers something quite different to Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba in the final third. While he may not exactly warrant a starting spot over them, he definitely deserves to feature more.

#2 Eric Bailly

Manchester United centre-back Eric Bailly

If not for his persistent injury problems, Eric Bailly could have easily been Manchester United's first-choice centre-back. The Ivory Coast international can do things on the pitch that no other player can. He regularly hurls himself in the way of shots and is one of the most brave and audacious centre-backs in the Premier League.

Anybody who saw Manchester United's 2-2 draw knows what Bailly is capable of. Not only is he a stalwart in defense, but he is also excellent with the ball at his feet. He does have an erratic streak in him but those things can be ironed out if he gets a consistent run in the first team.

However, he will need his body to not betray him first and foremost if he is to accomplish that. But given how poor Harry Maguire has performed this term, Bailly deserves a steady run in the starting XI at least until he goes back to the nursing room.

#1 Donny van de Beek

Manchester United v Newcastle United - Premier League

Donny van de Beek has started just four Premier League matches since joining Manchester United in the summer of 2020. The Dutchman has failed to impress in the limited opportunities he has been given. It is also nearly impossible to displace Bruno Fernandes from the starting lineup.

Van de Beek is not a holding midfielder as his strengths lie in exploiting spaces in and around the final third. But with Paul Pogba proving that he is pretty incapable of playing as a central midfielder or as a defensive midfielder in a double pivot, Van de Beek ought to be given a chance.

Pogba's distribution has been ridiculously bad whenever he has been deployed in central midfield this term. He has also been awful at dispensing his defensive duties and shows no bite in midfield. Whatever the Frenchman currently does in central midfield, Van de Beek can do better. That much is for certain.

While Solskjaer cannot exactly be blamed for Van de Beek's lack of minutes thus far, he really has no excuse now.