Jaap Stam rates Donny van de Beek’s chances of getting key role under ten Hag

Van de Beek was a key player under ten Hag at Ajax before moving to Old Trafford in 2020 where his career has stagnated.

After failing to start a single Premier League game this season, the midfielder joined Everton on loan with injury sidelining him for much of the Toffees’ scrap for Premier League survival.

A reunion with his old manager could boost van de Beek’s chances of breathing life into his United career.

Discussing the Netherlands international’s chances next season, former United defender Stam suggested ten Hag needs to find the ‘right combination’ that can benefit the underused midfielder.

‘I think Donny is a good player, we’ve seen him in Holland and when he was at United he didn’t always get the opportunity to play,’ Stam told United’s official website.

‘I don’t know why, because of certain reasons, it’s difficult to say from the outside that this is it, but from what I understand, and what I know, for a player to produce and do well, he needs to have other players around him who can produce and bring him to a certain level, because then it’s easier to step up for yourself as well.

‘I think that’s a very important one and then you need to find that combination of players together, to eventually have success. That’s a very important one for the club.”

Stam added: ‘It could be possible that when Donny comes back in, he’s going to perform next season, but it’s very important for him as to who he’s going to play with in midfield, for instance, if he’s going to be playing there.

‘That’s for him, but it’s also for 10 or 15 other players maybe the same situation.’

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