• Pre-season

Zaha has United future, says Van Gaal

Louis van Gaal says Wilfried Zaha will get the chance to prove himself at Manchester United on their pre-season tour of the United States, despite failing to give him a single minute in their two games so far.

Zaha, who endured a difficult first season at Old Trafford, is the only outfield player in United's squad who has not played in their first two games, a 7-0 win against Los Angeles Galaxy and Saturday's 3-2 victory over Roma.

Wilfried Zaha has failed to play a minute of Manchester United's two pre-season tour games © Getty Images

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But new manager Van Gaal has rejected suggestions that Zaha's attitude has not been good enough, insisting the winger's absence has purely been down to the unbalanced nature of his squad.

"I have a lot of players who can play in the strikers' positions. I have already said that our selection is not in balance. I can put six strikers in," Van Gaal told reporters in Denver after the win.

"So maybe next time I will put Zaha in because he is working hard. He is doing all the things I require or demand, so there is no problem."

Van Gaal has been able to call upon attacking players such as Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Juan Mata, who all started against Roma, plus Javier Hernandez, Nani, Ashley Young and youngsters Will Keane and Jesse Lingard, while he has fewer options in the centre of defence.

Zaha was Sir Alex Ferguson's final signing for United, with the club's former manager sealing a £15 million deal before he retired.

But he struggled under David Moyes, failing to start a league game and making only four appearances before he was loaned to Cardiff, who were then relegated.

Zaha told United's official website last week: "For me, I definitely feel like this is a clean slate. All I'm trying to do is impress the new manager and get into his squad. All I can do is give my all."

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