Manchester United midfielder Andreas Pereira frustrated by lack of first-team chances

Andreas Pereira is frustrated by his lack of first-team games at Manchester United. The 20-year-old midfielder came on as a substitute during the Red Devils' 1-0 win in the FA Cup third-round against Sheffield United on 9 January.

Pereira, who joined the club from PSV Eindhoven in 2011, admitted he yearns for more playing time under manager Louis van Gaal. "Of course you want to play every game, I was on the bench but I came on and I wanted to help my team but hopefully next time. It is frustrating but I must get used to being able to handle these sorts of things," the Brazilian, who signed a new contract at Old Trafford in 2015, told Manchester United's official website.

"You have to keep waiting for your opportunity and working hard. That's what I'm doing. We were happy that we won, but now we're focused on the next game."

Pereira also admitted he can understand the frustration of the fans at Old Trafford, who resorted to sarcastically cheering their side during the FA Cup tie against Sheffield United.

"We understand what the fans are thinking but we have to stick with the manager and his plan," the Manchester United youngster said. "We can do better and better. This is our second win in a row, hopefully we can kick on and play better football. The confidence will grow more and more if we keep doing the right things and keep thinking."

United have come in for criticism for their dour style of football in recent weeks, which has also coincided with a downturn in their on-field results. The Red Devils currently sit in fifth position in the Premier League table, nine points behind leaders Arsenal.