Can Adnan Januzaj Defy Critics to Reboot Manchester United's Season?

Adnan Januzaj has returned to Manchester United this month after cutting short his season-long loan spell with Borussia Dortmund. The Belgian joined the Black and Yellows on transfer deadline day in August 2015 but failed to cobble together a single Bundesliga start.

The young attacking midfielder shot to prominence under David Moyes in 2013-14, standing as one of the very few bright spots in a torrid campaign. He scored four and assisted three in 15 Premier League starts, bringing joy to the crowd with key goals and very fancy footwork.

It was the sort of surprise, yet definitive, impact that led not only to him featuring heavily in both the media and the public’s fantasy football teams, but also led to a genuine squabble between countries for his international allegiance. Belgium, Serbia, Albania, Kosovo...steadily, in the build-up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup, his astonishingly varied heritage was laid bare in front of the public, with every football association clamouring for his promise.

To seal the deal, Belgium took him to the World Cup in Brazil—though he did not play a large part, starting one game against South Korea and exiting the fray after 60 minutes. That was deemed fair enough, though; with Eden Hazard, Kevin Mirallas, Nacer Chadli, Dries Mertens and Kevin De Bruyne all considerably more senior, it made sense for his role to be limited.

But since then, the 20-year-old's career has taken a sharp turn in the opposite direction, with the BVB loan failure simply another feather in the bow. 

His two moments of “glory” at Signal Iduna Park were the UEFA Europa League starts against PAOK, but he failed to convince anyone he was deserving a more regular spot in the XI.

He was, of course, also fighting against the mercurial trio of Marco Reus, Shinji Kagawa and Henrikh Mkhitaryan for a spot in the side, so perhaps it’s not entirely surprising he wasn't thrown in.

The odd cameo off the bench during league games garnered mixed reviews; his assist for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang against Darmstadt was delightful, but too often his performances were limp and uninspired.

B/R’s Lars Pollmann was left baffled by him in December, leading him to question not only his performances but also the entire transfer, while ESPNFC’s Stefan Buckzo admitted: “Thus far his move away from Manchester can be summed up as a bad decision.”

He will not be missed in Dortmund; Pollmann suggested he was third choice “at best,” while simultaneously wondering if both Manchester United and Januzaj vastly underestimated the firepower BVB possess. It’s a prescient point.

So where does that leave him coming into 2016, back at United and back under the stewardship of Louis van Gaal? What role can he play, what impact can he make?

Ian Ladyman of the Daily Mail suggested Januzaj has not been brought back to turn this United ship around, and that it was the player’s request to cancel the loan. He will return to the north of England with a friendship with Marouane Fellaini to warm him and that’s about it.

But whether or not it was planned, Januzaj has made a habit of finding a way into the Red Devils’ XI over the last two years. Even with Van Gaal in charge, he has received playing time; and during the International Champions Cup, it looked as though he could be set for a key positional change that would unlock more opportunities to play.

Against Barcelona he played as a striker and scored a wonderful individual goal in the dying embers of the match, latching onto a through ball, giving his marker the slip and firing a firm finish home in impressive fashion.

It wouldn't be the first time Van Gaal has successfully changed someone’s position: He is the man famous for taking Bastian Schweinsteiger off the wing and placing him in the centre, after all.

Januzaj didn't assume the centre-forward role to begin the season, instead starting and scoring the only goal of the game at Aston Villa from a roaming No. 10 role. He made his greatest impact from a similar roaming role for Moyes, though he did often line up from the wing. The infuriating part is that the talent is there...but it’s just so sporadic.

His mentality and maturity has been questioned; Ladyman suggests Van Gaal doesn’t trust him to play a team game, track runners and put in the hard yards expected. From this perspective, you can place him squarely in the Adama Traore category—the one filled with incredible, naturally gifted talents who aren't trusted to do the “other” bits on the pitch.

But it’s difficult to ignore the fact that, on his day, Januzaj can light up a pitch and flash game-breaking ability, and that this Manchester United side is sorely in need of it. Anthony Martial has become the darling of the Old Trafford terraces in lieu of the Belgian, but there’s room for him to impress in this setup too—particularly from the wing.

With Memphis Depay perennially in the doghouse and Ashley Young stuck at full-back half the time to cover for injuries, Januzaj’s return is a short-term boost whether or not Van Gaal wants him around come March. He provides depth in numbers, the ability to play across the three midfield positions and may—just may—arrive at Carrington with a rather gargantuan point to prove.

If the Belgian can fuel the disappointment of his entire career post-2014 World Cup into some committed performances in training, he has a shot at this XI. Anyone with a glimpse of pizzazz does, and if they show both sides to their game—the offensive fluidity and the defensive studiousness—they’ll have both crowd and manager onside; a potent combo.

Januzaj must put to bed widespread concerns over his ability to apply and commit. If he does, there’s a role in this Manchester United XI with his name on it for the rest of the season.

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