Erik ten Hag believes Manchester United will need Donny van de Beek against Real Sociedad after he talked up the attacking threat the midfielder will offer.
Van de Beek is a surprise inclusion in the United side to take on the La Liga outfit in the Anoeta Stadium, with Victor Lindelof and Alejandro Garnacho coming in, while Harry Maguire, Anthony Elanga and Marcus Rashford drop out.
Van de Beek had made just four substitute appearances under Ten Hag this season, totalling just 34 minutes and he only made his return from injury last week.
READ MORE: Real Sociedad vs United LIVE team news and updates
It is his first start for United in 11 months and his first major chance to impress Ten Hag, having flourished under him at Ajax.
“I think always when you play it has to be special, the first time [he starts], he was injured, he’s back, he has to work himself back and we need him today," Ten Hag told MUTV.
Asked what he expects from Van de Beek, the United boss added: “Definitely scoring abilities, he’s good in movements, in between the lines, getting in behind, good in transition, counter-press, he has those capabilities and he has to show it today."
Garnacho, 18, is back in the side having shone against Sheriff Tiraspol last week but Ten Hag has told the winger that he has to match that level of performance at the very least.
“Minimum [he has to do that]," he said. "He has to show he is reliable, he deserved that start, good defending positions, good pressing, running behind and I want to see actions from him.”
United need to win by two goals in San Sebastian to finish top of their Europa League group and avoid a play-off round in February.
That will be against one of the sides finishing third in the Champions League, so it could mean a clash with AC Milan, Barcelona or Juventus, and Ten Hag admits the equation does change how he approaches the game.
"Winning is not enough, we have to win with two goals difference, we have a plan for that, we have to play with tempo, we have to break them, but we have 90 minutes, we have plan A, B and C," he said.
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