It was billed as the summer when Donny van de Beek would finally find his feet at Manchester United, but so far, it has been about as successful as the summer of George in Seinfeld. There were lofty hopes and dreams for the United midfielder under the guidance of former Ajax mentor Erik ten Hag, though there has little on show in pre-season to justify the hype.
Van de Beek remains a popular figure at United, but all of the excitement surrounding him spawns from what he might be capable of doing, rather than what he is doing.
The 25-year-old was a key part of the Ajax side that achieved huge success under Ten Hag back in 2019, but since then his stock has gradually dwindled and he now enters a season that will be make-or-break for him at Old Trafford.
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There is mitigation for his poor form, though. He joined during a global pandemic that was not conducive to settling into a new environment. Instead of a proper pre-season schedule, his introduction was limited to behind-closed-doors matches and lockdown living.
By the time the season started, he wasn't prepared for the intensity or rhythm of English football and suffered from a packed fixture schedule that limited his opportunity to match preparation and recovery sessions rather than focused tactical work.
It was a similar issue last season without a proper pre-season and, despite a bright start to the new campaign, things quickly unravelled as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked, with Van de Beek, ironically, the standout star in his final outing against Watford.
Ralf Rangnick spoke of an increased role for the Dutch midfielder, but those words were never followed through. A loan move to Everton in January would prove to be sink or swim and Van de Beek was in need of a life ring as Frank Lampard's side just avoided relegation to the second-tier.
The arrival of his former Ajax boss was always going to signal an opportunity for a fresh start, and this summer he has been given time at least to state his case.
Van de Beek was the United central midfielder who clocked the second-highest number of minutes in pre-season, more than Scott McTominay but fewer than Fred. He came on from the bench versus Atletico Madrid a week ago and then started against Rayo Vallecano a day later. No other player featured in all six summer friendlies.
“Donny has the capability, I have seen it, but he has to prove himself," Ten Hag stated at the start of the summer, but despite his regular outings, the performances simply haven't been good enough.
This season, there can be no excuses. He has had a proper pre-season, knows what English football is like and has a manager who believes in him. It is quite simply down to Donny to deliver.
The new Premier League substitution rules, which will allow five per game, should benefit him, with Van de Beek now a candidate to come on most weeks and accrue meaningful minutes in a range of different positions when the result isn't necessarily in jeopardy.
And perhaps this is the very role he is made for. Sure, he might have been a golden boy at Ajax who was at the heart of everything they did, but at United the demands of him are different.
United already have attacking specialists in the Bruno Fernandes and Christian Erisken, and they have selfless sacrifices in Scott McTominay and Fred, who are happy to do the dirty work for the greater good of the team. The hope is to add Frenkie de Jong to the side to be the progressive playmaker from deep, meaning a starting role for Van de Beek is essentially a non-starter.
Yet there is still a vital role to be filled as a squad player who can come into the midfield whenever needed (think Ji-Sung Park or Darren Fletcher), and Ten Hag clearly still believes he can do a job.
If he takes one of those chances, then maybe he will be able to steal a starting spot himself, but right now, it is important for United to have players with the right attitude in reserve to come to their rescue whenever needed.
Van de Beek might not be set for a starring role this season, but perhaps his best bet at shining will be by doing so as a reliable reserve instead.
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