Former Manchester United midfielder Andy Ritchie believes it is time Jose Mourinho introduces Victor Lindelof to life in the Premier League.
The Swede, who joined Manchester United from Benfica in the summer, made his Premier League debut when he came on against Liverpool last week for the last few seconds of the game.
Lindelof has largely been used in the Champions League and the EFL Cup thus far and Mourinho has conceded that the defender will take some time to adapt to English football.
Ritchie admits that the centre-back’s game is more suited to European football at the moment, but he feels it is time Mourinho throws him into the mix in a Premier League game.
He believes there is no point in protecting Lindelof more and just playing him in Europe as at some point he will have to play in the Premier League and get used to its tempo.
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Asked if Lindelof is still more suited to European games, Ritchie told MUTV: “The manager alluded to that when he made his first appearance.
"Obviously we had suspensions then, but he did say they would have played any way.
“He felt that he was suited to a more European type of game and tempo, but he has now got to introduce him into the Premier League as you can’t just say he is only going to play in Europe.
“He has got to be able to get up to speed to playing in the Premier League, which we know is a different type of game, tempo and pace and he has got to get used to that.
“He has got to introduce him to the Premier League as soon as he can.”
With Eric Bailly still out and doubts over Phil Jones, Lindelof could be making his first Premier League start soon.
