Nick Powell has admitted it is "amazing" Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson compared him to club legend Paul Scholes.
Powell, signed from Crewe Alexandra in the summer for £4m, has been earmarked by the Scot to provide a similar goalscoring impact from midfield Scholes used to until he moderated his game midway through the last decade.
Scholes has reached double-figures on eight occasions in his United career and Powell scored 16 times last season for Crewe as they earned promotion back up to League One.
Powell's debut goal for United was also eerily similar to one of Scholes' Old Trafford strikes against Copenhagen in the Champions League six years ago, which has added further weight to the comparison.
The 18-year-old admitted it was both exciting and daunting to be compared to Scholes, a veteran of 701 United appearances.
"For someone like him to say he thinks you can do that is amazing to hear," he told United Review.
"The expectations of you are there, but it’s fulfilling those expectations which is the challenge, especially when you consider that there will probably never be another Scholes. What he has achieved in his career is more than most people can dream of – to achieve even half of what he has would be brilliant. Hopefully I’m on the right path."
Powell celebrates a debut goal against Wigan
Powell is in line to make his first start for United against Newcastle United in the third round of the League Cup at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.
The Red Devils have not been eliminated at the first hurdle since their notorious 2-0 home loss to Coventry City in 2007.