Januzaj played the full 90 minutes against Middlesbrough on Sunday.
Ever since he burst onto the scene as an 18-year-old, Adnan Januzaj has been touted as a future star of the game.
Three years on since the Belgian was given a debut by then Manchester United boss David Moyes, Januzaj has been reunited with the Scot at Sunderland.
Over those three years, Januzaj’s star has faded. From being handed the number 11 vacated by Ryan Giggs, to a failed loan spell at Borussia Dortmund, and now being told he has no future under Jose Mourinho, can the 21-year-old ever live up to his supposed potential?
At Sunderland, he has been given the chance to flourish and this year on loan could really be make or break for the youngster. Januzaj made his first start in red and white on Sunday in the Wear-Tees derby, but a polarising and frustrating performance showed just how difficult it is going to be for him to become a star rather than a flop.
Donning the number 44 shirt, Januzaj started the game brightly and it looked as though he could be the creative force that Sunderland have been missing for years, causing problem after problem for Middlesbrough left back George Friend.
Despite constantly getting into promising positions through his sublime dribbling ability, those positions turned from promise to failure.
| Total Shots | Shots On Target | Corner Taken | Accurate Corners | Total Crosses | Accurate Crosses | Attempted Dribbles | Successful Dribbles | Mins Played | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adnan Januzaj | 4 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 90 |
The stats show how polarising an afternoon Januzaj had against Middlesbrough. Completing 75% of his dribbles but only producing one accurate cross epitomises his one big flaw.
As a winger, Januzaj should be the creative force, setting up chances for his teammates and picking up assists.
That will not be possible if he does not improve on his final ball. Januzaj can run past every player on the pitch twice but if he can’t then pick out a red and white shirt or score himself, then it was all for nothing.
| Premier League Appearances | Goals | Assists | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adnan Januzaj | 52 | 5 | 3 |
Five goals and three assists throughout his whole Premier League career is not a good enough return for a player Januzaj’s supposed ability.
At Sunderland, Januzaj should be handed more opportunities to shine than he would get at Old Trafford, but those opportunities are worthless if he does not take them.
The potential is there, but it simply is make or break for the Sunderland loanee.
He showed flashes of brilliance against Middlesbrough, but the usual problems remained his biggest concern.
Adnan Januzaj has been handed a lifeline by David Moyes, and the midfielder must repay that faith with goals and assists, or he will join the long list of players who never reached the heights they should have.
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