Man Utd: Louis van Gaal says Victor Valdes must prove himself

Valdes signed an 18-month contract with United in January 2015 after leaving Barcelona the previous year

Manchester United keeper Victor Valdes will have to prove himself in the reserves before playing for the first team, says manager Louis van Gaal.

The Spain international has recovered from a serious knee injury but played just once for United's second string since joining the club in January.

The ex-Barcelona keeper, 33, is second choice behind 24-year-old David De Gea.

"When you are out for more than a year, first of all you have to show yourself at a lower level," said Van Gaal.

Van Gaal had declared that "nobody is happy to be number two" after signing Valdes on an 18-month contract.

Valdes, who has won three Champions League and six La Liga titles, played his first game in a 2-1 win over Liverpool for United's Under-21s on 26 January, but he has been on the first-team bench on seven occasions.

"He has to do it in the second team," added the Dutchman. "Like Ashley Young is doing that, like Michael Carrick has to do that. It is always the same. I think it is normal."