Manchester United yashinda dhidi ya Aston Villa bao 0-1

If the rumours are to be believed, Aston Villa may have to deal with Adnan Januzaj in their next home game, too. Sunderland, August 29. If Dick Advocaat succeeds in securing Januzaj on loan, Villa will get to play him twice in three games.

Something about his performance, however, suggested that may no longer be the case. Januzaj scored the only goal and while he lasted no more than an hour before being replaced by Ander Herrera as Manchester United shored up their midfield to make certain of victory, one imagines Louis van Gaal will have seen enough.

Why should Sunderland get the benefit of United’s labour even if, in doing so, they are further preparing Januzaj for a Premier League career? Why can’t he make an impact with his employers this season? If not every week, then in enough games to prove his worth as a squad man, at least.

Januzaj watches his shot hit the net, beating Micah Richards, Brad Guzan, Ciaran Clark and Jordan Amavi in the process

Memphis Depay and Wayne Rooney wait expectantly as Januzaj's (unsighted) shot deflects off Clark and the post before going in

+23

Luke Shaw grabs Januzaj after his opening goal put Manchester United on course for their second consecutive victory

Juan Mata, whose slick pass scythed through the Villa defence, clenches his fist as United celebrate taking the lead at Villa Park

Depay and Shaw congratulate Januzaj, who has been linked with a move to Sunderland, as United saw off the challenge of Aston Villa

PLAYER RATINGS BY LAURIE WHITWELL, PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE

Aston Villa (4-3-3): Guzan 6; Bacuna 5.5, Richards 6.5, Clark 6.5, Amavi 6.5; Veretout 5, Gueye 6, Westwood 6.5; Agbonlahor 5, Ayew 6.5, Sinclair 4.5 (Gestede 58, 5)

Subs not used: Bunn, Baker, Richardson, Hutton, Sanchez, Kozak

Booked: Ayew, Gueye

Manager:Tim Sherwood 6

Manchester United (4-2-3-1): Romero 6; Darmian 6.5, Smalling 7, Blind 6.5, Shaw 6.5; Carrick 6.5 (Schweinsteiger 60), Schneiderlin 6.5; Mata 7, Januzaj 7.5 (Herrera 60), Depay 6 (Young 82); Rooney 4

Subs not used: Johnstone, Hernandez, Valencia, McNair

Booked: Herrera, Darmian

Manager: Louis van Gaal 7

Referee: Mike Dean 7

MOTM: Januzaj

Attendance: 42,200

+23

Jordan Veretout and Januzaj collapsed together in a heap and the Frenchman aimed a kick at United’s No 11 (left). The scorer ignored the jab, but Veretout bizarrely clutched his chest - which Januzaj never came close to touching - and rolled away in apparent agony

Janujaz completed a slick move involving Shaw and Mata down United's left. Check out more from our Match Zone

Villa fans let Depay know exactly what they think after the Dutchman squandered a golden chance to make it 2-0

Wayne Rooney shares some sage advice with goalscorer Januzaj after the 20-year-old Belgian gave United the advantage

With David de Gea banished to the reserves, Sergio Romero made his second outing in a United shirt, but his distribution was poor

Substitute Ander Herrera collides with Amavi as Manchester United attempt to increase their advantage over the hosts

From Van Gaal’s point of view, of course, the end justifies the means. Januzaj’s start paid off. He was the best of it for United early on, getting the winner and setting up some of the best chances. He possessed what Villa lacked, sharpness of thought around the box. The home team were disappointing. All the best early chances fell to United.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s teams often opened at high tempo. Van Gaal’s seem to ease their way in, and so it was here. Not until the 16th minute did United fashion a worthy scoring chance, and even then it was from a set piece. Depay’s free-kick from the left presented a real danger to Villa, who failed to spot Morgan Schneiderlin on the blind side at the far post. The delivery was perfect, not so Schneiderlin’s finish, a stooping header steered well wide.

In the 20th minute, a panicked Villa clearance took a fierce deflection and rebounded towards goal, teeing up an excellent opportunity for Depay.

He is a flying machine, the Dutchman, making it all the more impressive that Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan got to the loose ball first, and won a brave 50-50 with an absolutely thundering tackle.

Depay failed to trouble the Villa goal with this free-kick as the 21-year-old continues to get accustomed to the Premier League

Rooney had a quiet game by his own high standards as Leandro Bacuna just does enough to thwart this attack

Summer signing Matteo Darmian feels the full force of Gabby Agbonlahor's tackle as Mata watches on

Villa new boy Jordan Ayew shows his dejection during a disappointing outing for the Ghanaian striker

Bastian Schweinsteiger was introduced to shore up midfield late on and battles for posession with Idrissa Gueye

Seven minutes later, Januzaj was the provider — another good cross that deserved a better finish. This time Depay was the culprit, getting his angles all wrong, and delivering a tame header that went straight and wide, to the derision of the locals. They weren’t smiling for much longer.

Januzaj started the move that resulted in United’s winner, and finished it, too. It was his ball out to the left that, after a swift interchange of passes, was slipped in by Mata, exquisitely weighted and catching Villa’s defence square. Micah Richards, the new captain, came haring across, but in vain. Januzaj brought the ball under control, shifted his angle and shot towards the far post, clipping Ciaran Clark on the way.

It was no more than United deserved and they should have scored a second in the 73rd minute when Mata set Depay clear, only for new boy to steer his shot wide of the far post, one on one.

Stronger tests await, but United were much the better side and made all the running. They face Brugges in a Champions League qualifier on Tuesday and, on this evidence, should have the tie under control in the first leg.

Not that this was any great indicator of what can be expected in Europe. Villa did not significantly test second-string goalkeeper Sergio Romero; a dismal failing in the circumstances. Opponents really should be taking advantage of the uncertainty around David De Gea’s future right now, because it won’t last and United will surely improve.