Erik ten Hag insists Donny van de Beek will get chances to revive his Manchester United career but he is still at least two weeks away from a return.
Van de Beek has been sidelined for over a month with a muscular injury and has missed United's last five games, having failed to start in their opening four fixtures.
The 25-year-old joined United from Ajax for a fee rising to £40million two years ago but Van de Beek has only started two meaningful Premier League matches - the last at West Ham in December 2020.
A reunion with his former Ajax coach Erik ten Hag has done nothing to improve Van de Beek's standing at United and he is almost certain to be omitted from Louis van Gaal's Netherlands squad for the World Cup.
Van de Beek joined Everton on loan midway through last season but is unavailable for United's fixture at Goodison Park on Sunday and the earliest he could return is against Chelsea on October 22.
"He had a muscle injury," Ten Hag said. "So it takes a couple of weeks. He's now back on the training grass, so he's outside doing his work but still individual, he's not returning to team training. So we have to wait for that moment.
"He has to be fit. Obviously, that is his disadvantage. He is now for two-and-a-half years here. He had a pre-season that was quite okay and his chances will come.
"When he came on against Brighton as a sub he did very well but you have to be available. And if you are not available you cannot get a place in the first XI and so now he has to make sure he gets fit and fights for his position."
Source: m.allfootballapp.com