Adnan Januzaj will have to bide his time at Man United

Man United 3 Leicester City 1: There are few at Old Trafford who yearn nostalgically for the late, lamented reign of David Moyes as Manchester United manager but the club’s young winger Adnan Januzaj would be forgiven if he were on that list.

Twelve months ago, the Belgian international teenager was arguably the most talked about rising star in the Premier League with 24 first team appearances under his belt and three goals, including a remarkable double at Sunderland that heralded his arrival at the top of the domestic game.

Fast forward 12 months, under Moyes’ successor Louis van Gaal, and Januzaj has featured in just 14 games and this routine victory over struggling Leicester represented his first start since November.

Van Gaal’s patronage of youngsters like Tyler Blackett, James Wilson and Paddy McNair suggests that the Dutchman has no problem in giving youth its chance at Old Trafford which begs the question as to why Januzaj has been limited to four starts this season.

“He has a lot of talent but you have to perform that talent in the matches. And also in the training sessions,” said van Gaal. “I’m not making the line-up, the players themselves are making the line-up. You don’t believe that, I think! I look at players every day, I observe and I communicate with my players what I want. And the moment I think ‘okay, he is now ready to play’ then maybe I can let them play.”

Januzaj was utilised as a wide man in a three-man attacking midfield against Nigel Pearson’s visitors and performed solidly, particularly in the second half when the game was won. A well-aimed low ball into the six-yard box almost set up a goal for Radamel Falcao and a long-distance shot flew just over — tantalising glimpses of the sort of form that had United supporters clinging to him as a rare ray of hope during last season’s miseries.

But one thing has become clear in the first months of the van Gaal era. The Dutchman may be a respecter of talent and hard work, but he most certainly is not a respecter of name and reputation.

It explains why, at various stages, Radamel Falcao and Robin van Persie’s form and application have been questioned, while the growing backlog of talent in the United squad explains why van Gaal was prepared to allow long-serving Darren Fletcher to join West Ham, until his transfer collapsed over the weekend.

And, as van Gaal explained his selection philosophy and policy, he even showed his mischievous humour when he mimicked whining reporters who ask him why he leaves certain players out of his line-up.

“Every time you have to compare and that’s also the case with Fletcher, who is a very good player, but I have to compare him with Carrick and Blind who are playing in that position,” said van Gaal.

“That’s why I want to help Fletcher but it is also like Januzaj — I have to compare him with Mata because the next press conference you shall ask ‘Why? Why? Mata is not playing?’

“I have to choose and now I choose Januzaj but I’m very happy you ask about Januzaj and not Mata. But it’s always like that, Falcao is not playing, I’m looking every week and every day the players have to show it.

“I’ve said that to players, I’ve said it to Falcao, I’ve said it to Mata and I’ve said it to Januzaj. I’m very pleased that you are pleased with his performance!”

It remains to be seen how long van Gaal also remains pleased with the youngster, who turns 20 this week, and there is clearly far more competition for attacking places in this United line-up than was the case 12 months ago and whether Januzaj retains his place for tomorrow’s FA Cup replay with Cambridge will be an interesting pointer.

“I’ve not been playing for so long so it was good to get 90 minutes, even if I was tired in the last 15 minutes and got cramp!” said Januzaj. “Of course we want to win the FA Cup and this is a big chance to win it.”

After a tepid opening half hour, United capitalised on a slip by Leicester’s debutant Andrej Kramaric which allowed Daley Blind to slide in van Persie, who was offside but still finished impressively.

Soon after, Falcao bundled in an opportunist second goal before Wes Morgan headed a Wayne Rooney corner into his own net.

Marcin Wasilewski pulled back a consolation for the Foxes but there was to be no repeat of their dramatic come-from-behind 5-3 humbling of United in September.

Instead, manager Pearson now has to lift his side for the weekend clash with fellow strugglers Crystal Palace. “The games when you play sides in and around your own position are always going to be important but I think it puts more emphasis on those games when you’re at this stage of the season when the league is taking quite clear shape,” said Pearson.

“Of course it’s important that we’re not adrift but we have to make sure we’re getting enough points ourselves, whether results are going for us or against us. Ultimately, you’d rather your destiny be in your own hands.”

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-1-3-2): De Gea 6; Valencia 5 (Mata 77, 6), Jones 6, Rojo 7, Shaw 6; Blind 8; Di Maria 7, Rooney 5, Januzaj 6; Falcao 7 (Wilson 80), van Persie 7 (McNair 68, 6).

Subs not used: Smalling, Herrera, Fellaini, Valdes.

LEICESTER CITY  (4-2-3-1): Schwarzer 6; Simpson 8, Wasilerski 7, Morgan 6, De Laet 5; Vardy 5 (Cambiaso 46, 6), King 6, Drinkwater 6, Schlupp 5; Ulloa 5 (Nugent 62, 6), Kramaric 5 (Albrighton 62, 7).

Subs not used: Konchesky, Upson, Hammond, Hamer.

Referee: Martin Atkinson 5.