Share

Memphis hoping for Old Trafford revival

Cape Town - Memphis Depay is hoping his double strike for the Netherlands in World Cup qualification on Sunday can act as a catalyst to help revive his stalling club career at Manchester United.

The 22-year-old forward proved to be an inspirational substitution for the Dutch in a tricky away game at Luxembourg, coming on at halftime and scoring twice to ensure a 3-1 victory in the Group A encounter.

The first goal was a close-range header from a cross delivered by club teammate Daley Blind and the second a free kick over that he struck over the home team's wall.

"I'm really happy I succeeded," he told Dutch television. "I proved I can still take a free kick. I knew I still had it in me and I really wanted to take it. It was great to see the ball go in."

Memphis said he would be returning to Old Trafford with renewed confidence in a campaign in which he has seen just 20 minutes of league action, all off the bench, and started only a domestic cup match.

"That is for sure. I'm going to fight my utmost to make sure I can get back in contention," he added.

Memphis's performance came as no surprise to Dutch coach Danny Blind, who said he had remained confident in the player's ability even if he had seen little Premier League action.

"His work ethic is so good and when he came on he made the right impact. His goals were a reward for him and for the team," Blind said.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1272 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
30% - 1470 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2240 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE