Paul Pogba led the way for Manchester United in Europa League competition on Thursday night, with the Frenchman bagging a brace in a comfortable 4-1 victory over Fenerbahce.
The world’s most expensive footballer had gone close to two years without netting twice in the same game — a run stretching back to Juventus’ Serie A meeting with Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico on Nov. 22, 2014.
Pogba and Martial get the goals they needed
With that sequence broken, United will be hoping that there are plenty more inspirational performances to come from its big-money summer signing.
2 - Paul Pogba has scored two or more goals in a game for the first time since November 2014 (v Lazio). Brace. pic.twitter.com/zeLXuA1Ckx
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 20, 2016
Pogba was, however, not the only United player to impress at Old Trafford, with Jesse Lingard also making a telling contribution as he recorded a career first.
1 - Jesse Lingard has scored and assisted in a single game for the first time in his Man Utd career. Variety. pic.twitter.com/ciiaHl2d4i
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 20, 2016
Elsewhere, Wayne Rooney provided another assist, meaning that he has now had a hand in five of the 10 goals United have plundered against Fener in their last two home meetings with the Turkish outfit (having grabbed a hat trick and an assist on a memorable debut in a 6-2 win back in 2004).
The Red Devils netted with their first four efforts on target of the game, suggesting that there is not too much wrong with them as an attacking unit, while they are now unbeaten in their last 13 European fixtures at Old Trafford (including qualifiers).
Man Utd v Fenerbahce: Player Ratings
All in all, not a bad night’s work for Jose Mourinho’s side.