Van Gaal: Zaha Will Get Chance

Louis van Gaal is pleased with the way Wilfried Zaha has trained so far in pre-season and may give the winger a run-out in Manchester United’s next tour game.

After Saturday’s 3-2 win over Roma in Denver, Zaha is the only member of the Reds' 26-man squad who hasn’t yet played in the USA.

It led to a reporter asking in van Gaal’s post-match press conference whether the 21-year-old was unfit, a question to which the manager responded with typical candour.

"There is no Manchester United player who is fit," the manager declared. "Maybe the boys who have trained already before the tour, the ones who started on 7 July, are a little more fit.

"But the World Cup players are not fit. They have only had four days of training sessions, in the heat. So you cannot say they are fit.

"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.

"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."

Wayne Rooney has sparkled so far in the States, scoring twice at the Sports Authority Field to take his tally to four in two games. But van Gaal was reluctant to single him out for praise.

When asked if Rooney had adapted to his new system, van Gaal replied: "You are right but I don't think we have to discuss one player. We have to discuss the team and the team is performing."