Manchester United: Adnan Januzaj needs chance to fulfil forgotten potential under Jose Mourinho

In what will be a hugely transitional summer for Manchester United, there are some players who will be more concerned over their futures at the club than others.

The attacking trio of Memphis Depay, Andreas Pereira and Adnan Januzaj will be among them. While Louis van Gaal was not afraid to hand first-team roles to Marcus Rashford, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Timothy Fosu-Mensah , the former three remained marginalised under the Dutchman.

The arrival of Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford complicates matters for them. While the former Chelsea manager has previously placed his faith in Davide Santon, Raphael Varane and Kurt Zouma during his spells at Inter, Real Madrid and Chelsea, his reputation for overlooking developing talent precedes him.

For Januzaj in particular, he must defy that perception and make up for lost time under the Portuguese coach if he is to have a future at Old Trafford. Not too long ago, he was regarded as the future of the club. Last season, he cut a frustrated and forgotten figure, playing for a grand total of 17 minutes after returning to the club in January following a failed loan spell at Borussia Dortmund.

Concerns regarding his attitude have not helped his cause. Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel questioned his desire and motivation, fears that had previously been shared by Belgium Under-21 boss Enzo Scifo. Players without those traits have rarely lasted long under Mourinho.

But Januzaj's defenders will point to his breakout 2013-14 season. His emergence was the sole success story of a miserable campaign for United and saw him shortlisted for football's Golden Boy award in 2013 and 2014.

Such was his impact on the Premier League that even Mourinho felt the need to address it. Ahead of a league clash between United and Chelsea in January 2014, he said: "He is a fantastic player. He is not 18, he is 25. He is so mature and comfortable. A very good and important player.

"I just think he is a very good player with the great conditions to have a great long-term career. I don't know the boy individually, but it looks like he has the lot."

Mourinho clearly admired the youngster. But that was over two years ago. While niggling injuries have not helped his cause, Januzaj's lack of progression has been concerning. After 35 appearances during Moyes' doomed reign, he featured more regularly for the club's Under-21 side than the first-team during van Gaal's final season in charge.

Like Memphis and Pereira, Januzaj watched on from the sidelines while Jesse Lingard, a player with less natural talent but greater endeavour, grabbed his chance with both hands. With change in the air at Old Trafford, Januzaj cannot afford another season on the fringes.

But with many of his teammates away at Euro 2016, he will have an opportunity to make an early impression on Mourinho. Maybe then, he can prove his new manager was right all along.