Vicente Del Bosque laments Victor Valdes situation at Manchester United

Spanish manager Vicente del Bosque has lamented the situation of Victor Valdes at Manchester United while hoping the goalkeeper will have more minutes in the future in order to be able to return to the national team squad.

The former Barcelona number one missed the Brazil World cup this summer after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in March 2014 but had previously been a regular in Del Bosque's plans.

Valdes was indeed the back-up of Real Madrid keeper Iker Casillas - with former Liverpool player Pepe Reina also in the sqaud - during Spain's success in both the Euro 2012 and the World Cup 2010.

Even though the 33-year-old keeper is completely recovered from his injury, Del Bosque has been forced to leave him out of his squad due to his situation at Old Trafford, naming instead Villarreal star Sergio Asenjo as the third keeper behind Casillas and David de Gea.

Nevertheless, Valdes is yet to make his first-team debut at Old Trafford since signing an 18-month contract with the Premier League giants earlier in January.

Even though some expected him to replace De Gea in the FA Cup games, van Gaal has kept the number one unmovable in his starting line-up, with Valdes just playing some under 21 games.

Asked during an interview with Radio Station Cadena Cope about whether he is still monitoring Valdes ahead of calling him up in the future, Del Bosque said: "Yes. I know that he is training. I try to look whether he is in the United's bench and I can see that he is currently a substitute.

"I wish him to play because he has always had a sensational behaviour with Spain. I would like him to enjoy his job [rather than being on the bench] because at his age [33-years-old] it is important to be active."