Van Gaal: Star players are not guaranteed places

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has sent out a message to his players that, no matter how big their profile, they will have to earn their place in his XI.

Speaking ahead of Monday’s important match at West Brom, the Dutchman praised the recent performances of young players such as Paddy McNair and declared this could make it difficult for the established stars to be reinstated in his plans.

“I think Paddy McNair has done fantastically in the two matches he has played,” said van Gaal in a briefing for the Sunday newspapers. “Of course [Phil] Jones, [Jonny] Evans and [Chris] Smalling were not available but I am always thinking that young players can take over the job.

“We have good youth players and we have showed that already, not only with McNair but also with [Tyler] Blackett, for example, and also with [Jesse] Lingard.”

When asked if the return of some recently injured first-team players would mark the return of "the real United", van Gaal played down the correlation and stressed that quality runs deep in his squad.

“When you mention [Wayne] Rooney, [Michael] Carrick and [Phil] Jones, of course they are great football players but we have more great football players and sometimes the other football players are doing better,” the manager reiterated.

“Nobody is walking back into my team, believe me. You have to earn it on the training ground, but every player knows that. Believe me, it is not only [about] the name. Our youngest player McNair was outstanding in our last match.”