Moyes: Man United starlet in same league as young Rooney

Manchester United manager David Moyes believes teenage winger Adnan Januzaj is in the same league as the young Wayne Rooney, after the 18-year-old netted a brace to record a slim 2-1 victory over Sunderland.

With the Red Devils heading into the break trailing by a goal after Craig Gardner’s early strike, the Belgium-born forward came to life after the break to net two goals in quick succession.

The boy from Brussels showed great technique and touch to guide a wonderful volley into the net to complete his brace on his debut Premier League start.

And Moyes was full of praise for the youngster’s performance and development after he played a key role in United’s triumph over the plucky Black Cats.

“I’ve given a few players their Premier League debuts - Wayne Rooney, Ross Barkley - and this lad is certainly the level of those boys,” said the Scot. “He wouldn’t be amiss in any team.

“I’ve watched him every training session and he deserved to start with the way he’s playing, everybody saw that today.

“Both of his goals were great, and this is a boy of 18-years-old, he’s not even 20 or 21.

“We took him on our pre-season tour and he was terrific, so I knew we had a real talent and he’s just got better since coming back from the tour.

“He’s a really good boy, very well grounded. Manchester United keep their young players’ feet on the ground and we’ve played him in the reserves recently.

“You have to work hard for everything you get here, he certainly has and he deserved that performance and deserved to make his debut.”