Manchester United youngster Adnan Januzaj has had his first-team opportunities limited following accusations of excessive showboating in an under-21 fixture.

Januzaj took part in a private duel with team-mate Andreas Pereira against Sunderland on January 25 in which both players attempted to score directly from a corner.

Staff are believed to have reported events to manager Louis van Gaal who takes a dim view of players who put themselves before the team.

Manchester United youngster Adnan Januzaj (left) with team-mate Memphis Depay during training

Despite blooding several youngsters, he has played 21-year-old Januzaj only once since then, as an 80th-minute substitute against Arsenal on February 28.

Pereira, who will be a member of Brazil's Olympic team in Rio later this year, has made four brief appearances as a substitute, three of those in the FA Cup and Europa League.

The decline of Januzaj into a bit-part player at United has been noticeable since he burst on to the scene as a teenager under David Moyes in 2013.

A loan move to Borussia Dortmund earlier this season didn't work out and United considered him unfit after he returned in January.

The decline of Januzaj into a bit-part player at United has been noticeable under Louis van Gaal's reign

After scoring direct from a corner in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Oldham, he and his close friend Pereira attempted a repeat in the 1-0 win against Sunderland in an official Premier League fixture at Leigh.

Januzaj hit the post with one effort and had another cleared off the line but it was felt within the club that he overdid the trick as well as the numerous stepovers on display.

Although the Belgian winger has recently been restored by Van Gaal to the first-team squad and was named as an unused substitute against Manchester City in United's last game before the international break, he still has work to do to restore the manager's full trust.

Andreas Pereira shakes hands with United boss Van Gaal after his side's clash with Sheffield United

Pereira, a central midfielder, was denied a loan move by Van Gaal in January and is worried that a lack of first-team games will cost him a starting position at the Olympics.