David Moyes tips Adnan Januzaj to become one of the best players in the world even though he is out of favour at Manchester United

Former United manager handed Januzaj his debut last season but the additions of Radamel Falcao and Angel Di Maria has seen his playing time limited

Moyes speaks with Januzaj (GETTY IMAGES)

David Moyes has backed Manchester United midfielder Adnan Januzaj to develop into one of the best players in the world even though he is currently out of favour at Old Trafford.

Januzaj was given his United debut last season under Moyes’ reign as manager, and the 19-year-old is seen as one of the few successes of the Scot’s tenure at the club. But Januzaj has slipped down the pecking order since Louis van Gaal arrived in the summer, and the additions of the likes of Radamel Falcao and Angel Di Maria combined with a switch in formation has seen his chances limited this season.

Speaking in an interview with the Telegraph, Moyes explained that Januzaj is on the same level that Wayne Rooney was at the same age, and has tipped him to go all the way to the top of the game.

“Adnan Januzaj is, in my managerial time, the best young talent up there with Wayne Rooney,” said Moyes. “You can see what he can become. When we had Wayne at Everton you could see the potential. Adnan Januzaj has got all that at the same age as Wayne. He’s one of the best young talents in Europe and he will go on to become one of the best players.

“When we went on tour last year he was one of the pluses. He did very well. There was a lot said about him. We came back and within a month we could not believe the change in him - he could go past people inside, outside, to the left, to the right.”

Having compared his potential to the current England captain, Moyes went on to suggest that his playing style reminded him of another England international in Chris Waddle.

“He had a bit of Chris Waddle about him. Chris Waddle used to slow you down and make you feel comfortable and before you knew it he was gone. Adnan has that. He can eliminate people.

"Yes, of course, he was young and he was going to not do it all the time but he has incredible skill, a good temperament and with the right degree of arrogance. Wayne was different but in the same way as we saw something special in him at Everton we saw that in Adnan Januzaj. I can only see the boy going right to the top.”

Manchester United midfielder Adnan Januzaj (GETTY IMAGES)

Moyes remains out of work having been sacked by United with four games reaming of last season. Having taken over from Sir Alex Ferguson, he was not only unable to retain their Premier league crown as rivals Manchester City secured the title, but missed out on European football altogether as the club finished seventh in the league – their worst finish since 1989-90.