This season, Anthony Elanga has participated in 24 of Manchester United’s 46 games in all competitions (52%), going scoreless while contributing two assists.

The 20-year-old has participated in more than half of United’s games, yet he has started just seven games (15.2%) and logged a pitiful 672 minutes out of a potential 4140 minutes (16.2%).

Elanga said in a recent interview with Aftonbladet that he is growing impatient with Erik ten Hag’s lack of playing time but would wait patiently for additional chances.

It is frustrating, he remarked. You want to have fun. It is significant. But the coach will decide if you don’t play, not me.

The international player from Sweden joined United in 2015 and has since made 53 appearances across all leagues, with four goals and four assists.

Elanga sparkled at the junior level and was more than deserved of his promotion. He scored ten goals with eight assists from 29 games for the U18s, one goal with one assist from three games for the U19s, and fifteen goals with seven assists from 37 games for the U21s.

Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Alejandro Garnacho present him with fierce competition, so it’s understandable why he hasn’t made many starts.

Amad Diallo, who was loaned to Sunderland and is doing well, will be more satisfied with his season than Elanga is. Over the summer, Ten Hag may decide to switch the positions of the two players.

It’s difficult to see the United boss, who is famed for his severe discipline, giving a young player additional playing time if he doesn’t think they’ve earned it.

Elanga’s remarks could go unheard, and he will need to put in a lot of effort in practice to earn the right to start more senior-level games.