Depay dazzles on European debut for Reds

Memphis stole the show for United against Brugge on Tuesday and at the same time announced himself on the big stage on his European debut for the club.

In his first two domestic games for United- against Spurs and Villa- Depay had been used as a number ten behind Rooney and on both occasions didn't really have an influence on the game.
Against Brugge, it was Adnan Januzaj who played that role with Memphis shifted to the left wing- and the results were emphatic.
Cutting in from wide,  he scored two screamers and set up the third for Fellaini, but, more than that, he terrorised the Belgians all night, should have had a hat-trick and was the best player on the pitch by a mile.

Of course, United will come up against better opposition than Brugge this season, so at this stage Memphis' showing has to be put into perspective, but it felt like the start of something a bit special.

Since the departure of CR7, many have been tried in the iconic shirt- Antonio Valencia, Michael Owen and Angel Di Maria all had a single underwhelming campaign with the number on their backs- but, far from struggling with the prestige that comes with the history attached to the number- Memphis looks like he will thrive.

Granted, the previous incumbent started the same way, but whereas he lacked the mentality, attitude and desire to succeed, Memphis is young, hungry and stated on signing for the club that United is the "only place he wants to be."

Before we signed him I had thought of Memphis as a small, lithe, lightweight figure who may struggle with the physical demands of the Premier League.
On the contrary, his stocky, robust demeanour looks perfectly suited to the high-pressure demands of the top flight, and that along with his pace, skill and power meant that he looked every inch a United player on Tuesday.

It's still early days, and it's going to take more than a man of the match showing against an unheralded Belgian outfit to judge Memphis, but the signs are promising, and for all the pretenders that have worn the number seven, he may finally be the man to live up to the expectations.