Young ‘bemused’ by Van Gaal snubs – report

Matt Stead

Ashley Young has been left ‘bemused’ and puzzled’ by his continued absence from the Manchester United first team, according to The Guardian.

Despite being a key fixture of the United squad under manager Louis van Gaal last season, Young has become a peripheral figure this campaign.

The England international has started just five Premier League games so far, and while only six players started more league games than Young last season, 11 have started more this.

According to Daniel Taylor of The Guardian, Young was left ‘bemused’ by Van Gaal’s decision not to start him in the defeat to Bournemouth at the weekend, with the Dutchman having indicated that he would feature.

In fact, Young has not featured since the 1-1 draw with Leicester at the end of November, and has been an unused substitute in each of the last three games against West Ham, Wolfsburg and Bournemouth.

Guillermo Varela, 22, and with three United career appearances to his name, and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, 18, and with 104 Premier League minutes under his belt, have been favoured over the 30-year-old in recent fixtures.

Taylor reports that while Young was carrying a minor injury heading into last week’s game against Bournemouth, Young was ‘surprised’ not to start, and the winger has been ‘puzzled’ by his non-inclusion.