Manchester United stars Cavani, Pogba and Rashford tune up for Champions League clash against Leipzig - in pictures

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer adamant Donny Van de Beek has 'big part' to play at United

Edinson Cavani during a first team training session ahead of the Champions League match against RB Leipzig. Getty

Edinson Cavani on the ball. Getty

Paul Pogba, Bruno Fernandes, Anthony Martial, Facundo Pellistri and Edinson Cavani. Getty

Bruno Fernandes is enjoying the training session. Getty

Marcus Rashford in action. Getty

Bruno Fernandes, Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial and Victor Lindelof. Getty

Donny van de Beek will play a more active role as the season progresses. Getty

Facundo Pellistri, Nemanja Matic, Edinson Cavani and Harry Maguire. Getty

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is confident Donny van de Beek will play a "big, big part this year" despite a restricted role since his arrival at Old Trafford.

The 23-year-old midfielder, who joined from Dutch giants Ajax for an initial £34.1 million ($44.5m) fee, has started more matches for the Netherlands than United since his transfer, making just five appearances off the bench as well as two starts in the League Cup.

But Solskjaer, who watched as Van de Beek joined Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani, Marcus Rashford and the other United stars in training, believes the new recruit will  become more involved as the season goes on.

"When players come into a new league, a new team, it's always going to be a time of (transition)," Solskjaer said ahead of United's Champions League group game at home to Germany's RB Leipzig. "When Donny has played, he's played really well."

United have failed to win any of their opening three home Premier League matches this season but a 4-1 victory at Newcastle followed by an impressive 2-1 away win against Paris Saint-Germain in a European opener eased the pressure on Norwegian boss Solskjaer.

A goalless draw against Chelsea last weekend meant United, now in a lowly 15th place in the Premier League, had still to win a home league match this season.

Solskjaer reckoned talk about Van de Beek's relative lack of game time was just another chance for pundits to criticise United.

"At the moment, I realise the topic is Donny van de Beek and it's nice for some players or commentators to have a little go," he said.

"I know that you (the media) are short for time when you're on telly (television) and you have to put your points across very quickly, but you have to know that you don't have to start the first three games to be a very important player in the squad."

Solskjaer, renowned for his impact as a United substitute, notably when he came off the bench to score the winning goal in the 1999 Champions League final, added: "I would be disappointed if some of my team-mates said that I wasn't important at Man United because I didn't start many games, so Donny's going to be very, very important for us, don't worry about that."

Wednesday's match at Old Trafford sees United and Bundesliga leaders Leipzig meet for the first time, with both clubs having won their Group H openers.

"In the group stage we have four teams and you would think that 10 points would get you through, so to get to 10 points as quickly as we can is our aim and our focus now is on getting three points tomorrow night," said Solskjaer.

Anthony Martial, who is serving a three-match domestic ban, is again available for European action. The France forward featured against PSG last week.