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Two Manchester United youngsters had differing fortunes at the weekend.

On Saturday, Jesse Lingard, making his first Premier League start of the season, scored his first United goal.

A day later, Adnan Januzaj was an unused substitute during Borussia Dortmund’s 3-2 win over Schalke.

The two games took place 24 hours and more than 600 miles apart but the two incidents are linked. While Lingard is enjoying the transformation from youth team graduate to first-team regular, Januzaj’s stock is falling.

A loan move that was billed as a way of aiding Januzaj’s development is having the opposite effect. In three months in Germany the 20-year-old has started two games, both in the Europa League, completing 90 minutes once.

If Lingard’s breakthrough moment was his goal against West Brom on Saturday, then Januzaj’s came at the Stadium of Light in October 2013.

A second-half substitute against Wigan, Crystal Palace, Liverpool and West Brom, he started for the first time against Sunderland, scoring twice in a 2-1 win.

His form during the 2013/14 season was the one highlight of a disastrous campaign and kept David Moyes in a job until April when he might have been sacked months earlier.

Januzaj made 35 appearances in his debut season.

It was down to 18 under Louis van Gaal the following year. And despite starting four of United’s first five games this season, and scoring the winner against Aston Villa, he was loaned to Borussia Dortmund on deadline day.

“Our first impression of Adnan is good,” said Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel soon afterwards.

“He’s a very exciting, creative player but it will still take time for him to get used to us, to the defensive work and the training intensity too.”

But judging by how little Januzaj has played since it seems Tuchel is still waiting.

He’s lost his place in the Belgium squad for friendlies against Italy and Spain.

And if his situation doesn’t improve it’s likely he’ll miss out on a place in the squad for the European Championship next summer.

It seems a long time since Belgium coach Marc Wilmotts suggested Januzaj’s move to the Bundesliga could be as significant as Kevin de Bruyne’s move from Chelsea to Wolfsburg.

Adnan Januzaj at Borussia Dortmund 9 Appearances 2 Starts 358 Minutes 5 Unused sub 0 Goals 0 Assists Whoscored.com

“The step back from Chelsea to Wolfsburg worked wonders for Kevin de Bruyne,” he said.

“I am convinced that Adnan’s decision to join Dortmund on loan for one season is the right one. It will help him make the next step.

“Januzaj can enjoy a similar development to De Bruyne.”

So far, it’s not worked out like that.

Tuchel has usually played Januzaj on the left wing or in central midfield but he’s hasn’t been able to leapfrog the likes of Marco Reus, Shinji Kagawa and Ilkay Gundogan in the pecking order.

There have also been suggestions in Germany that Januzaj wasn't in the right physical shape when he arrived and is only just catching up.

On top of that he's trying to break into a team that’s playing well – Dortmund are second in the Bundesliga having lost once all season.

But there are other factors, too, according to Bild journalist Moritz Leihkamm.

“He doesn’t play a big role in Tuchel’s team,” said Leihkamm. “The main reason that he is not playing is that Tuchel finds him too slow.”

Being slow to move the ball is a criticism that’s also been aimed at Van Gaal’s United.

Januzaj has still got three-and-a-half years left on the five-year deal he signed in October 2013. Dortmund have no option to buy and the expectation is that he’ll return to Old Trafford to fight for his place.

But with the emergence of Lingard and Van Gaal stating publicly he wants to sign another winger, he could find the goalposts have moved when he gets back.

A season away at Dortmund that was billed as an opportunity for Januzaj to prove his worth to United is starting to look like it could backfire.

MORE: Louis van Gaal reveals he's on the look out for a new winger.