MANCHESTER, England -- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer urged Donny van de Beek to take his "opportunity" against Watford in the FA Cup and the Dutch midfielder, enduring a difficult first season at Manchester United, can be satisfied he took it. It is more than a month since Van de Beek started a game at Old Trafford but in helping United reach the fourth round with a 1-0 win against the Championship side, sent his manager a reminder that he did not move from Ajax in the summer to sit on the bench.
He did not score or register an assist -- captain for the night Scott McTominay headed in Alex Telles' corner after five minutes for the only goal -- but he didn't need to.