Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is pleased ex-Saints defender Luke Shaw is back playing with England Under-21s.

Van Gaal believes that level of international football is the right one for the youngster's development, even though he tasted senior action at last summer's World Cup.

Such an attitude is at odds with that of some other managers in the Premier League, notably Arsenal's Arsene Wenger and Roberto Martinez of Everton.

Both Wenger and Martinez expressed reluctance recently when asked if some of their senior-capped players should bolster the young national side ahead of next summer's UEFA Under-21 Championship.

But Van Gaal, who has had two spells as Holland national team boss, can see nothing but benefits for 19-year-old left-back Shaw, signed for almost £30m from Saints in the summer.

The 63-year-old said: "It is a very good education. I have said that already, when I was national coach. All my players had played in the Under-21s. I think it is not any question, not any discussion.

"As the trainer of a club I should be very happy that he is playing Under-21s. I am happy he is playing because when he is on the bench - for example (Adnan) Januzaj was on the (Belgium) bench, he had two weeks' holiday - that is not a benefit.

"Then he can play better Under-21. I think youngsters have to play.

"I was very happy Shaw was playing in the 21s and he himself (was) also. He needs match rhythm. It was good for the national team Under-21s, it was good for me and it was good for Luke."

England Under-21s have suffered in previous tournaments having travelled without their strongest eligible squad.

Debate over the issue is not new but this season there does seem to be a concerted push to tempt players such as Shaw and his ex-Saints colleagues Calum Chambers and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, plus the likes of Jack Wilshere, John Stones, Ross Barkley and Raheem Sterling, to feature.

United defender Phil Jones is also still eligible for selection.

Van Gaal has made his position on the matter clear but he does accept each player needs to be considered on an individual basis.

He said: "You have to see always the individual player, not every player is the same. Some players are maybe too tired to play.

"But the managers and the medical departments of the clubs and the medical department of the federation have to communicate better."