Adnan Januzaj Putting Pressure on Manchester United's Established Stars

On Saturday evening, Adnan Januzaj walked off the pitch at the Stadium of Light, shook hands with David Moyes and took his seat on the bench.

Wearing his best poker face, he sat down next to Shinji Kagawa, who managed a little smile.

Anyone none the wiser would have had trouble picking the player who had just scored twice on his debut and the one who has struggled to get a game.

You would have expected their respective reactions to be different.

Against Sunderland, Januzaj kicked off his fledgling Manchester United career with a bang. Kagawa, meanwhile, saw another obstacle blocking his path to the first team.

On the first day of pre-season, each United player will have looked at the group assembled by Moyes and worked out who was in their way.

For example, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans will have looked at Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, while Alex Buttner will have looked at Patrice Evra. 

United are a tight-knit group, but everyone wants to play.

Not many will have been looking at Januzaj. 

Part of the successful under-21 team last season, the senior players will have known that he's a talented boy. 

But the speed of his rise from exciting prospect to first-team goalscorer will have still surprised many around Carrington, including Ryan Giggs, Ashley Young, Danny Welbeck and Kagawa. All four have been used on the left of United's midfield this season, but no one has made the position their own.

By a process of elimination, it has led Moyes to Januzaj, and the youngster's first Premier League start against Sunderland.

It was a gamble that paid off spectacularly, and his stunning impact has guaranteed him more first-team football this season. But that means others will have to miss out.

Like Welbeck, Kagawa would prefer to play centrally, and Jurgen Klopp would like to see him used there, too.

But with Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie on the team, it's difficult to see how Moyes—who is usually conservative in his tactics—can accommodate them all.

It leaves the Japanese midfielder battling for a place on the left, with Januzaj adding further competition. Nani, Young and Giggs—who are all natural wide players—can also expect to share duties on the left with the Belgian.

Against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, Young got the nod in United's biggest game of the season so far, but he was so poor that he hasn't played since.

Giggs got the job against Liverpool at Anfield, but he was replaced midway through the second half.

Januzaj didn't make himself a regular with his two goals and overall contribution against Sunderland. Moyes will have to use the 18 year old, who is still developing physically, very carefully and rest him at the right times.

But at the Stadium of Light, he did make himself part of his manager's immediate plans. And that spells trouble for some of his more established team-mates, even if they are still managing a smile for the time being.