Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hit back over criticism of his use of Donny van de Beek.

The Dutchman has yet to start a single Premier League game since arriving from Ajax in the summer.

This prompted Manchester United legend Patrice Evra and Marco van Basten to question why the club had signed the attacking midfielder.

But Solskjaer insists the 23-year-old has a 'big, big part' to play this season.

"When players come into a new league and team it's always going to be a time to adapt," said Solskjaer ahead of Wednesday's Champions League tie with RB Leipzig.

"When he's played, he's played really well, I think it says a lot about our depth of quality in the squad that we don't have to use him every single game, we also have other players, it says everything about our ambitions that we want to push on and challenge for trophies this season.

"Donny will play a big, big part this season, I realise the topic is Donny van de Beek at the moment.

"It's nice for some players and commentators to have a little go, I know you're short for time on television and you have to put your points across very quickly."