MANCHESTER UNITED PLAYMAKER Shinji Kagawa feels he needs to improve if he wants to “survive” at the Premier League champions.

The 24-year-old, who joined from Borussia Dortmund in June 2012, enjoyed a strong debut season under former manager Alex Ferguson, scoring six times in 26 appearances across all competitions.

But he has struggled for game time under new boss David Moyes, so far clocking up just 46 minutes in the opening six matches of United’s title defence after being substituted at half-time in the defeat to West Brom on Saturday.

He is eager to impress Moyes though, and knows he must get better to earn his spot in the side.

“I have to take this like some kind of message (from the manager),” he said.

“I need to improve more and more, or I cannot survive at this club. I have to take this in a positive way and keep trying to do my best.

“I wasn’t involved that much (against West Brom) and I didn’t touch the ball enough but I was trying to be patient, so I didn’t feel that bad at half-time.

“I thought I would have been able to find some space to create the chances in the second half, so in that sense I was disappointed to have been substituted.”

The Japan international will hope to be included when United take on Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, having featured in their opening group game against Bayer Leverkusen.

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