Donny van de Beek has to follow Erik ten Hag's advice at Manchester United

Donny van de Beek dined at The Ivy last week and it has been an eternity since he was a thorn in an opponent's side for Manchester United.

Van de Beek was not with teammates in the directors' box at Old Trafford on Thursday night and likely in his hospitality box. He has been absent from the last two matchday squads and did not participate in open training at Carrington on Wednesday.

In a squad of six central midfield options, Van de Beek remains at the back of the queue under the manager who developed him into a playmaker coveted by Real Madrid and bought by United from Ajax.

Also read: United are taking a risk with squad options

Ironically, Van de Beek will have to wait for a first start of this season under his Ajax mentor Ten Hag than he did under his scourge Ole Gunnar Solskjaer last season. Van de Beek has had three substitute appearances totalling 19 minutes.

Erik ten Hag stressed he was looking forward to reuniting with Van de Beek when he was paraded by United in the Old Trafford press room back in May. Nearly four months on, Van de Beek's only starts under his compatriot were in friendlies against Aston Villa and Rayo Vallecano.

Van de Beek did not seek an exit route in the transfer window as he did last summer when Solskjaer nixed a season-long loan to Everton. Solskjaer said on the eve of his final match in charge at Watford Van de Beek would "reap his rewards". Solskjaer was probably not referring to his imminent dismissal. Van de Beek started once under Michael Carrick and then Ralf Rangnick.

Ten Hag did not exactly wax lyrical about Van de Beek when he was mentioned at AAMI Park in Melbourne two months ago: "It's the same for every player: he has to do it by himself.

"Me, as a manager and the coaching