Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has admitted that he considered substituting midfielder Ander Herrera before the Spaniard's influential spell against Club Brugge on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old was booked in the 13th minute of the Champions League qualifier before setting up one of Wayne Rooney's hat-trick goals and scoring himself in a 4-0 triumph.

"He started not so good, I think," Van Gaal told reporters after the match. "He had a lot of ball losses and also a yellow card, so it was at the moment that I wanted to change him, but then I saw that he was coming back.

"And then after that moment he plays a good match, I think, on the double-six position, but later on [at] 10 he was better. So I'm very pleased also for him."

United progressed into the group stage of the competition with a 7-1 aggregate score.