Five Man United players who made memorable debuts in the Manchester derby

RYAN GIGGS
United 1 City 0 (4 May 1991)

 

Ryan had made his first-team debut when coming as a substitute against Everton in March 1991. But his first start came in the derby, two months later, and he responded by delivering the decisive moment of the game. Well, we say that, but although Giggs is credited with the only goal of the match, debate has raged for years as to whether he actually got a touch on the Brian McClair cross that Colin Hendry diverted into the City net. Either way, it’s gone down as the first of Giggs’s 168 United goals, and made his first start for the club a derby day to remember.

 

ERIC CANTONA
United 2 City 1 (6 December 1992)

 

Arguably United’s most important signing of the 1990s replaced Giggsy when making his own first appearance for the club. United were 1-0 against City up when Eric Cantona came on at half-time for his bow in Red in December 1992, after a shock move from Leeds United in late November. It was a quiet evening for the Frenchman – wearing the unfamiliar no.12 on his back – but for the Blues, this was the calm before the storm: Eric would score eight goals in his next six appearances against our cross-town rivals. This cameo, which featured one outrageous backheel, was a light taster of what was to come.