Depay still to prove he can be the No.10 & Blind insists he CAN

Van Gaal admits Depay still to prove he can be the No.10

Man Utd manager Louis van Gaal says he hasn't ruled out switching Memphis Depay to the

left wing if his central role doesn't work out.

Louis van Gaal has admitted Memphis Depay has still got to prove he can be Manchester United’s No.10.

And the United manager hasn’t ruled out switching the 21-year-old to his more familiar role on the left.

Memphis started all four of the pre-season tour games in a role behind lone striker Wayne Rooney.

And they were paired together again for the opening game of the season against Tottenham on Saturday.

They were both involved in the move that ended with Kyle Walker putting through his own net.

But they struggled to create much else before Memphis was replaced with Ander Herrera after 68 minutes.

Van Gaal insists Memphis, a £25m signing from PSV Eindhoven this summer, is still learning his new role after spending most of his time in Holland on the left.

And the 64-year-old says he’s still waiting to see if his new recruit can live up to the demands of such an important position in his system

Van Gaal said: "It is a new position for him and he has to adapt to the new position because he is a goalscoring type.

"But we have to wait and see if he can fulfil the demands of this position but that’s also because Ashley Young is playing very good on the left side.

"Therefore that is the circumstances now but it can change during the season. He can play in this position.

"Memphis has speed. He didn’t show that too much (against Tottenham) but he has to learn that also that when he has to go and when he doesn’t have to go.

"We didn’t have much of the ball. It is not only because of him but also his fellow players

Van Gaal gave Memphis and Rooney plenty of opportunities in the United States to forge an understanding.

But after the 3-1 win over Barcelona in Santa Clara he admitted the pair were ‘trying too hard’ to develop a partnership.

If Van Gaal doesn’t bring in another striker before the transfer deadline, it will be up to Rooney and Memphis to score the goals needed to mount a credible title challenge.

United have just James Wilson and Adnan Januzaj in reserve, neither of whom were in the squad to face Tottenham at the weekend.

Van Gaal is confident his newly-formed partnership can come good.

But he has told Memphis, Holland’s top scorer last season, that he needs to relax.

He said: "He is too eager I think. I have said that in advance you have heard that.

"New players, especially young players, want to show their qualities and the next match shall be only because of that be better for him."

Blind insists he CAN he Reds centre-back this season

Daley Blind started the season at centre-half against Tottenham on Saturday and he thinks he's good enough to stay there

Daley Blind believes he is good enough to be Manchester United’s regular centre-back this season.

The 25-year-old was a surprise choice at centre-half during United’s pre-season tour of the United States.

And with Marcos Rojo still regaining his match fitness, the Dutchman kept his place alongside Chris Smalling for the opening-day win over Tottenham at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Blind primarily played in midfield and left-back last season after arriving from Ajax last summer.

Van Gaal has been criticised by some fans for keeping faith with 5ft 11ins Blind in the centre of defence rather than splashing out on a new signing.

The United manager has suggested he’s happy to go into the new season with just Smalling, Phil Jones, Rojo and Blind as his centre-backs to keep his preferred left-foot right-foot combinations.

Blind admits he doesn’t have the physical presence of a traditional centre-back.

But he insists he’s ‘clever enough and smart enough’ to keep the Premier League’s best strikers in check.

I’ve said many times before that I just want to play.

“If you see what everyone can add to the team, then it’s a real battle for places and everyone had to fight for a position.

“I got a chance on this occasion and I tried my best. Of course, people always say I don’t have the height or the power but I think I’m clever enough and smart enough.”

After starting against Tottenham, Blind is set to keep his place for Friday night’s trip to Villa Park to face Aston Villa.

Tim Sherwood’s side beat Bournemouth on Saturday thanks to a powerful header from Rudy Gestede, their new £6m signing from Blackburn.

Despite his size, Blind insists he’s not fazed by the challenge of facing the Premier League’s physical strikers.

And he pointed to how he handled Harry Kane, with the help of Smalling, as evidence that he can be a long-term option at centre-back this season.

He added: “If you see our opponent (against Tottenham), he’s very good.

“He wins a lot of headers and duels in the striking position so it’s not only about power and force.

“I think we did well at the back, together with Chris, Luke and Matteo and we get a clean sheet so I was happy.”