Louis van Gaal has been accused of stifling young English talent as the goalkeeping crisis at Manchester United took a new twist.

After David de Gea’s move to Real Madrid collapsed and Victor Valdes’s switch to Besiktas failed, Sam Johnstone has been left furious by the club’s refusal to let him leave to play first-team football.

Van Gaal has opted to play Sergio Romero instead of Johnstone in United’s six matches this season, but still blocked the 22-year-old’s potential moves to Championship clubs — even though he told his manager he wanted to leave earlier this summer.

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Sam Johnstone has been left furious by Manchester United's refusal to let him leave to play first-team football

Van Gaal has opted to play Sergio Romero (left) instead of Johnstone in United’s six matches this season

Johnstone’s agent Jordan Segal at Impact Sports said: ‘Sam just wants to play football but Manchester United are holding him back and not even playing him.

‘He is a young goalkeeper and it is time for him to play regularly. If that is not at Manchester United, then it has to be elsewhere. This is an example of young English talent being held back by Van Gaal.’

Johnstone signed a new three-year deal in January 2014 under former United boss David Moyes but does not know where he stands under Van Gaal.

The goalkeeper — who represented England at Under 16, 17, 19 and 20 level — enjoyed a successful loan spell at Preston North End last season and kept a clean sheet in the play-off final as the club achieved promotion to the Championship. But Van Gaal did not even send staff to watch Johnstone at Deepdale, despite its close proximity to Old Trafford.

David de Gea has not been selected by Van Gaal due to doubts about his focus amid interest from Real Madrid

De Gea's proposed transfer to Madrid fell through at the last minute on Monday night

Segal added: ‘The start of the season was the perfect opportunity to give Sam his chance to prove he can play for United. He is ready.

‘If they do not want him to play then he needs to move for the sake of his career. He cannot sit on the bench or in the reserves.

‘England should have as many goalkeepers as possible to pick from. Given the early progress in his career that is the level he is aiming for. He is not going to get there by not playing.’

Johnstone played the most minutes on United’s pre-season tour but, with Van Gaal short of goalkeepers, he was overlooked for the first team by Romero - who had only been at the club for 10 days - for their first game of the season against Tottenham.