Donny van de Beek 'has been assured by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer he will get more game time as the season progresses' with Manchester United ruling out a January move for the Dutchman.

The midfielder, bought for £40million from Ajax last summer, has started just two Premier League games for United and completed only four matches in all competitions so far.

Van de Beek has spent most of his time warming the bench - he has been an unused substitute in United's last six league games - because of the form of Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba.

But, according to The Athletic, Van de Beek talked with Solskjaer ahead of United's win at Fulham last week and has been assured his opportunity will come.

The short conversation left Van de Beek confidence he will be more involved between now and the end of the season with United chasing not only their first league title since 2013 but also silverware in the FA Cup and the UEFA Europa League.

A move away from Old Trafford, either on loan or permanently, for a player contracted until 2025, in the remaining days of the January window has been ruled out.

He was handed a rare start in United's 3-2 FA Cup fourth round win over Liverpool on Sunday evening but struggled to make much of an impact during 66 minutes on the pitch.

Van de Beek was replaced by Fernandes, who fired home the free-kick that settled an entertaining cup tie.

The midfielder will expect more game time next season and is likely to receive it if Pogba, whose contract expires in 2022, leaves Old Trafford.

United, who sit two points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, return to action at home to Sheffield United on Wednesday night.

After scoring United's winner from a free-kick, Fernandes admitted he felt sympathy for Van de Beek.

'Donny had a great game,' he told MUTV after the match. 'Playing in the position I play, watching him he moves really good and played really well.

'It's important for us. If I was in the position of Donny I would not be happy at all but the most important is doing what he does today, coming in and helping the team.

'We have a really good squad and we have options. If you look at the bench and the first XI today and the ones at home we have a really good squad.

'It will not be a problem if we change the team or someone is tired because we have really good players.'