5 Greatest debuts in Premier League history
Only if Falcao had taken his sitter or if Danny Welbeck had been successful in putting his audacious lob an inch inside the post, they would have become the new heroes to millions of their new followers.Nothing quite moistens the loins like the anticipation of that newly signed superstar taking the field for your team. Thus, the pressure on these highly anticipated debuts are always immense. A great debut goal/performance can go a long way in settling your nerves at the new surroundings.It can help you stake an immediate claim at stardom to the millions that had laid in a pensive anticipation of your first showing. Everybody around the club becomes your new best friend, and if the game was significant enough, you might just have bought yourself free pints for the rest of your life at the pub around the corner.Here are five of the greatest Premier League debuts that we have witnessed in it’s two decade long history:
#6 Honourable Mentions
The asterisk (*) shows the team the player was representing.
- Alan Smith (Liverpool vs Leeds United*, 1998): A goal on debut at the age of 18 in front of the Kop; propelling his team to memorable 3-1 victory.
- Michu (Swansea* vs Queens Park Rangers, 2012): A brace on debut to help the Swans to a 5-0 rout of the Rs.
- Robbie Keane (Coventry* vs Derby): Brace in his debut after Coventry had paid £6 million, then a British record for a teenager to Wolves for his services.
- Mido (Tottenham* vs Portsmouth): A double strike on debut a 3-1 win over Portsmouth had the Tottenham believing that they had future upfront sorted out.
- Mario Stanic (Chelsea* vs West Ham): Not many remember his time at Stamford Bridge. But those who do, certainly remember his debut against West Ham in which his brace helped the blues to a 4-2 win over their cross-town rivals.