Manchester United's Adnan Januzaj comes to the rescue of Moyes...- Coach Dan

Manchester United's Adnan Januzaj

  shoots to score his second goal against Sunderland

Adnan Januzaj's eye-catching first Premier League start for Manchester United in their 2-1 win at Sunderland on Saturday impressed manager David Moyes but appeared not enough to send him rushing to lock the 18-year-old in to a new long-term deal.

Januzaj's brace at the Stadium of Light was a statement of his undeniable potential with Moyes comparing his quality to that of a young Wayne Rooney, a player he also handed a first start in England's top flight to while at Everton.

The Brussels-born Januzaj joined Manchester United from Belgium club Anderlecht in 2011 but has featured little for United's first team and British media reports have suggested he was almost sent out on loan by Moyes before impressing during this year's pre-season.

Alongside Rooney, United's Dutch striker Robin van Persie is not easily overshadowed but Januzaj did exactly that at Sunderland, displaying calmness on the ball and deadly accuracy with both feet to earn his side a much-needed victory.

A couple of top European clubs are said to be interested in Januzaj but Moyes believes the lure of being a star at Manchester United would be enough to keep him.

"I'm not too worried about that because I think every young boy wants to play for Manchester United," Moyes told Readers digest...

"I've always thought that. If I was a young player I don't see anywhere else better than Manchester United to go.

"He's going to be a great talent, a special talent. He hit goals, he has ability on the ball...but we'll keep his feet on the ground here, we won't let him get ahead of himself."

Born in Belgium to Kosovan-Albanian parents and with links to Turkey and Serbia, Januzaj is eligible for a number of countries so he is a young man with club and country decisions ahead of him.

Januzaj's goal-scoring performance led former United goal-keeper Peter Schmeichel to label him "something special" while midfielder Michael Carrick believes his young team mate can be "anything he wants to be."

"He's (Januzaj) done it on the big stage now," Carrick was quoted as saying on Manchester United's website (www.manutd.com).


"He's got so much ability, he's got a great attitude too. He can be anything he wants to be. He's that good, he's got that chance.

"It's just the start for him. I'm sure he's not going to get carried away with it. But his two finishes... the first was on his weaker foot, you would think. His second one was just a terrific volley.

"We've got a lot to thank him for."

Manchester United should go back to basics - Vidic

Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic has told his teammates to get back to basics as they bid to ease the pressure on David Moyes at Sunderland on Saturday.

Under-fire boss Moyes has endured a bumpy beginning to his first season at Old Trafford, with United slumping to 12th in the Premier League table after their worst start since 1989.

Defeats at bitter rivals Liverpool and Manchester City in the league had alarm bells ringing among United fans concerned Moyes won't be able to emulate Alex Ferguson's glorious reign, and last weekend's 2-1 home loss against West Bromwich Albion sparked a rare chorus of disapproval from the Old Trafford crowd.

United's 1-1 draw at Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Wednesday was a creditable result in the circumstances.

But Serbian defender Vidic acknowledges United have been well below their best so far, and he believes his defence must provide a solid foundation to allow Moyes' men to get back on track against Sunderland, who sit bottom of the table without a manager after Paolo Di Canio's sacking and still waiting for their first win of the season.

"We have to accept it has not been a great start," Vidic said. "We have not been getting the performances we would have liked and we also have to be realistic enough to accept we have made some mistakes.

"This team has a lot of potential and we are working really well.

"Sometimes the results don't come. Sometimes the performances don't come. But I am really positive.

"The most important thing is to defend right. If we defend well, I think we have a really good chance to win trophies."

Across Manchester, City manager Manuel Pellegrini is also sorely in need of a victory after seeing his side crushed by Bayern Munich in midweek just days after a humbling loss at Aston Villa.

Like Moyes, former Malaga manager Pellegrini has found it hard going since taking over in the close-season and, ahead of Saturday's clash against Everton, City defender Micah Richards admitted his side have to mount an immediate response.

"We have had two disappointing results," he said. "We don't like to lose two games back to back. We have got a winning mentality built into us.

"We have to put it right on Saturday. We are at home and we will give a good performance and hopefully get three points."

City and United have little margin for error as they are already five and eight points respectively behind leaders Arsenal, who head to West Brom on Sunday with confidence sky-high after a 2-0 win over Napoli in the Champions League.

Arsene Wenger's side have won five successive league matches to open up a two-point lead at the top and Tuesday's dazzling display against the Italians, which included a first Arsenal goal for club record £42.5 million signing Mesut Ozil, has only increased the feel-good factor.

Former Real Madrid midfielder Ozil has been the key to Arsenal's renaissance and Gunners defender Per Mertesacker says he has been helping his fellow German get used to life in London in an attempt to aid his transition.

"It is things like how to get on in London, how to come to the training ground, to get to whatever he wants to go. It is just a quick call or a text, you can help him out," Mertesacker said.

"I need to help Ozil settle because it is very important to get him into the squad quickly, so that he can adapt and play with freedom.

"His vision is enormous and with him we are more dangerous and can compete at the higher levels."

Second placed Liverpool will expect to keep the pressure on Arsenal when they host struggling Crystal Palace.