Manchester United: Fred must keep working to earn regular playing time, says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Fred has started just twice since Solskjaer's arrival, playing just 126 minutes in total

Fred must keep working before he can enjoy a consistent run in the Manchester United side, though Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could be forced to turn to him against Crystal Palace.

The midfielder became United’s third-most expensive signing of all time upon his arrival from Shakhtar Donetsk in a £52million deal last summer.

Fred has struggled for regular playing time since, however, with both Solskjaer and his predecessor Jose Mourinho preferring others in the middle of the park.

Solskjaer has preferred to play Paul Pogba, Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic as his midfield three since taking charge in December.

And after Matic’s injury last week, Scott McTominay started Sunday’s goalless draw with Liverpool, while Andreas Pereira was preferred when Herrera came off injured.

When asked on Tuesday what Fred had to do to earn an opportunity, Solskjaer said: “Play well when he gets a chance, keep training, keep working.

“We’ve had a midfield three of Herrera, Pogba and Matic, and they’ve done really well together.

“It’s not like we’ve been really bogged down with too many games. That why we’ve kept them three together.

“McTominay was the obvious choice against Liverpool because he’s an academy kid. We had five academy kids on the pitch at one point. He knows what it means.”

But Solskjaer did suggest that, given United’s mounting list of injured players, Fred could start for only the third time under him against Palace on Wednesday night.

United could be without as many as 10 players for the trip to Selhurst Park, including midfielders Matic and Herrera.

Solskjaer believes Fred’s problem is one of adaptation and reiterated his call for the Brazil international to follow the example of ex-United player Juan Sebastian Veron.

“You look more at the time it needs sometimes to settle. You see Seba Veron, he’s one of the best I played with, it took him time to settle in England.

“I’m sure that Fred, when he gets the chance, he will grab the opportunity.”