Manchester United loaned out Donny van de Beek so the midfielder could play games regularly. It did not get off to an ideal start.

After being cup-tied for Everton’s FA Cup game at the weekend, he found himself on the bench for their Premier League game against Newcastle.

While frustrating to trade United’s bench for Everton’s, you could kind of understand Frank Lampard not wanting to make sweeping changes after their 4-1 win at the weekend, with fellow new boy Dele Alli also on the bench along with Van de Beek.

Van de Beek did make it on, in less than ideal circumstances. He made it on for the final 30 minutes, after Newcastle had gone 2-1 up. They went onto win 3-1.

Everton had been forced into two first half changes. When Demarai Gray was injured in the 25th minute, Dele Alli was preferred to Van de Beek. Yerry Mina also went off injured.

Lampard brought Van de Beek on in the second half, and sounded less than enthusiastic about not having another more impactful substitute to chase the game.

He told Everton’s official website: “I would have made more changes to try and affect the game, but it was impossible to other than to bring on Donny who came on at a difficult time. 

“They were big circumstances that happened that made it difficult tonight.”

Van de Beek had one shot at goal, made 43 touches in 30 minutes, and did all he could to try and help Everton get back into the game. He blocked one shot and won one aerial duel.

Newcastle clinched the game when Kieran Trippier’s free-kick made it 3-1, and helped move them out of the relegation zone.

Van de Beek will be better off for this game. Getting 30 minutes was not great, but it is almost half the 69 Premier League minutes he has played for Manchester United this season, a truly ridiculously low number.

He will hope to get his first league start since last May when Everton take on Leeds this weekend.