FORMER MANCHESTER UNITED winger Keith Gillespie believes Adnan Januzaj is struggling to fit in at Old Trafford this season.
Despite an impressive breakthrough campaign under David Moyes, the Belgium international has found himself restricted to a place on the bench in each of the Red Devils’ first five matches under Louis van Gaal.
The new United boss has reinforced his squad this summer and experimented with wing-backs, meaning Januzaj has been squeezed out of the first-team picture in the opening weeks of the season.
And Gillespie, who left the club in 1995 despite being part of the famous ‘Class of 92′ FA Youth Cup winning side, feels Van Gaal’s 3-5-2 system does not allow for attacking wingers such as the 19-year-old.
“Unfortunately, with the embarrassment of riches Manchester United have at the moment, he’s not first choice,” he told the Manchester Evening News. “He’s still young though and is learning the game. He needs games to bring out his potential.
“Last season was very poor for United, but he was probably the one shining light in a team which didn’t perform.
“Just look at the players in the team now, the likes of Angel Di Maria, Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao.
“He’s a winger and I’m not sure he can adapt and play as a wing back. He needs to play further forward. It’s very difficult to fit him in to the system.”
Januzaj himself, meanwhile, has revealed that he is willing to play as much football as possible to impress Van Gaal, even if that means appearing for the youth team. The teenager scored a hat-trick as the club’s Under-21 side ran out 4-0 winners over Sunderland on Monday, though he admitted he is also working on other aspects of his game in order to catch his manager’s attention.
“Of course, I played a lot of games last season and I’m trying to impress the manager once again and get games again this year as well,” he said. “I tried to do my best. Obviously, even if it’s reserves level, I always have to show myself and improve.
“I got a hat-trick but I think I worked hard defensively as well and these are the kind of things I have to do now and at first-team level.
“I don’t do it for any other people but for myself. I look after myself. Even if I have to play Under-18s, I have to do it and try to improve every time I play.”
