Erik ten Hag heaps praise on Wout Weghorst and says Man United could keep him next season

Erik ten Hag would like to keep Wout Weghorst at Old Trafford despite the loan forward only scoring twice in 18 games.

Weghorst, who is signed up for championship leaders Burnley but played the first half of this season in Turkey with Besiktas, has only been on the losing side twice since arriving at Old Trafford and ten Hag believes his contribution has been vital.

‘Of course (he could stay). I think he is doing a lot of elements very well,” ten Hag said of his Dutch compatriot.

‘He is doing a very good job for us. He is the leader of our press and he connects very well. He makes good moves and leaves room for others and he’s good at set pieces. He’s really contributing to this team.”

Weghorst, who stands at 6ft 6in, has been mocked for his lack of goals with United great Paul Scholes saying of him: “You have a certain level of quality to play at Man United and it’s not there.”

The Manchester United manager said he would like to stay with Weghorst next season

Weghorst has only scored twice for United but will likely make his ninth successive Premier League start against Newcastle on Sunday.

But United’s results have been impressive since he arrived in January with ten Hag playing him in midfield, as well as his more natural position up front.

“I think that since the World Cup we have played 25 games and we have lost two. He has played almost every game so he really is part of the success,” added the United manager, who is likely to give Weghorst his ninth successive Premier League start at Newcastle today (Sunday).

United should have Marcus Rashford available after he missed England’s serve with a knock, while Anthony Martial is set to return to the bench from injury.

The striker has only been on the losing side twice since arriving at Old Trafford in January