Erik ten Hag hails Wout Weghorst amid recent criticism of Dutchman

The Netherlands international has been a vital player for Ten Hag's team since his arrival on loan from Burnley in January, starting all 15 matches for the 20-time English champions.

Weghorst scored his first goal for Man United against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup at the end of January, but his recent performances have been called into question.

The 30-year-old missed a host of opportunities during Thursday's clash with Betis, but he eventually got his name on the scoresheet in the latter stages, netting Man United's fourth in the 4-1 success.

Ten Hag has said that he always had belief in Weghorst's ability to find the back of the net.

"I think, as you see, he is often in the right position, then he fails. But he keeps going," Ten Hag told reporters during his post-match press conference.

"So, he showed great personality and character so not only in this game - I think also in this game, he could have already [got] his goal early on, but he keeps focused, he keeps working and he keeps putting himself in the right positions. And, finally, he got his goal and his reward.

"He is capable. He is physically capable to play a lot of games. He is a very fit player, and he recovers very well. Did I expect [it]? I expected that he will play a lot but obviously we have an injury with Anthony Martial, so it's obvious that's the main reason why he's playing every game from the start to almost finish.

"[Against] Barcelona I think I took him off, but many other games he played, and I think he's doing well as the striker or as the no.10 in the midfield, he's also bringing good performance."

Weghorst has also been used as a number 10 during his time at Old Trafford, and Ten Hag has explained the qualities that the attacker possesses in order to operate in that area of the field.

"I think he has intelligence from positions, he is a very good anticipator. I tell him to of course [help] linking up there, what he is also doing as a high striker," he added.

"But in that position, [he is] linking up and getting in front of the goal, when crosses are coming in. And for the rest, also there the defending part he is very good [at] it."

Weghorst, as it stands, will return to parent club Burnley at the end of the season, but there have been suggestions that he could earn a permanent move to Old Trafford, potentially as a back-up option to either Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane or Napoli's Victor Osimhen.