Adnan Januzaj Recalled From Loan

Author : Conor Kelly 

Yesterday the news broke that Adnan Januzaj’s loan deal to Borussia Dortmund has been cancelled and that he will be returning to United immediately. All three parties will reflect on the short loan deal as a disappointment, with Januzaj only making 12 appearances, and even more disappointing, with only three starts. But what does this mean for the player himself, and for United short term and long term?

Firstly, with the Reds in the midst of a frustrating injury crisis, Januzaj’s return as another attacking option will be welcome, given their well documented lack of goals, Memphis’ lack of form and confidence and Lingard’s injury. In the four games Januzaj started prior to his loan deal, he scored against Aston Villa and looked a menacing threat, showing glimpses of why he’s a very highly rated youngster. The lively Anthony Martial may link well with the Belgian if played as a striker, and when Lingard returns to the side, not only are United energised with positive, direct attacking players, but also two new youth prospects which epitomise United’s ethos on bringing through talent.

There may be a sense of frustration for Januzaj himself and the Reds alike that he hasn’t quite taken off as expected since bursting onto the scene in 2015, and we’re still waiting to see the best of him and whether he bills up to the massive expectations placed upon him. A change of scenery in the Bundesliga may have improved the technical side to his game, but a question mark around him is whether he can cope with the physical demands of the Premier League. Januzaj may feel that he was denied opportunities in Van Gaal’s debut season, always behind the likes of Young and Di Maria in the pecking order. However whilst in action, his statistics are rather disappointing – 60 matches, 41 starts, 5 goals and 4 assists. To prove his worth as a long time Manchester United player he needs to add to those tallies quickly, as Manchester United always focus on productivity of their players.

With the European championships looming and a spot in the Belgium squad up for grabs this should be an added incentive for Januzaj to step up and perform. United’s drop into the Europa League might give him more opportunities to shine, as the thin squad now face a heavy schedule. The European exit in December may be a blessing in disguise for Januzaj in terms of his development, and it’s important he takes advantage of the chance he’s been given.

The purpose of Januzaj’s loan deal was to give him game time, and since that never materialised the decision will probably stand as a correct one for United. Ultimately the next few months may be crucial to Januzaj himself and Manchester United – will he follow in the footsteps of Ryan Giggs whose shirt number he’s inherited, or in the footsteps of Federico Macheda, a bright prospect but not quite United calibre after all?

Time will tell.