Former Manchester United first-team coach Michael Carrick has acknowledged Donny van de Beek needed more game time and is happy to see him playing at Everton.
Van de Beek joined United from Ajax in 2020 and it was seen as a major coup at the time, given how highly rated he was across Europe.
He failed to break into the first team under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or Ralf Rangnick and is spending the rest of this season on loan with the Toffees.
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Carrick, who was caretaker manager of the Red Devils for a short period, admits the 24-year-old wasn't getting enough time on the pitch.
“I am delighted for Donny. He is a terrific lad. Great attitude," Carrick told Premier League Productions per the Manchester Evening News.
"Football is funny, at times. Sometimes things don’t work how you want them to work for a variety of reasons when you make a move to a certain club.
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"I am delighted he is playing. He needed games.
"He obviously didn’t have enough, he will be saying, over the last year or so.
"He’s so versatile as well. He has got different strengths. He has played in a three tonight [against Tottenham Hotspur], but I think he is really dangerous in and around the box. But he is really clever in and around the box."
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Van de Beek's long-term future at Old Trafford likely remains in the hands of whoever is appointed permanent manager in the summer.
The Netherlands international has started four of Everton's last five Premier League games in comparison to his time at United, who he didn't start for in the league all season.
Everton are currently 17th in the table and were beaten 5-0 by Tottenham Hotspur last time out.
Carrick joined United's coaching staff shortly after retiring in 2018 and worked under Jose Mourinho until the 'Special One' was sacked later that year.
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He'd then become a vital part of Solskjaer's staff alongside Kieran McKenna until Solskjaer was relieved of his duties in November 2021.
Carrick enjoyed three games unbeaten as caretaker boss, which included 1-1 draw with Chelsea and 2-0 win over Villarreal to seal qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League.
The 40-year-old stepped down on December 2 with immediate effect, after defeating Arsenal 3-2.
Topics: Donny van de Beek, Manchester United, Premier League, Michael Carrick
Daniel Marland