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Memphis Depay not ready to be brilliant yet says Manchester United great Ruud van Nistelrooy

Manchester United's Memphis Depay celebrates scoring his side's second goal of the game during the UEFA Champions League play-off tie v Club Brugge
Image: Memphis Depay has scored five goals in 21 appearances for Manchester United so far this season

Ruud van Nistelrooy says Memphis Depay is not ready to be brilliant at Manchester United - but he has backed his fellow Dutchman to replicate United's famous number sevens.

Depay, 21, had been struggling to recapture a promising start to life at Old Trafford but impressed and scored in Saturday's victory at Watford.

Van Nistelrooy has worked closely with Depay as a Netherlands coach, and the man who scored 150 goals in five years at United believes Depay can emulate the likes of David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo and George Best.

Image: Ruud van Nistelrooy scored 150 goals in five years at United

"Memphis has the quality and ability to replicate United's famous number sevens," Van Nistelrooy said.

"To make a difference at United means being really brilliant and being decisive in big games. He is not yet ready for that quite yet.

"He will rise again. He will become better and more influential. He is really eager to learn.

"When he is with the national team, I have worked very closely with him. We watch his video clips a lot and closely analyse what he can do better and improve upon.

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"As a coach, I always look to accentuate positives to make his strong points even better. He will get there, I'm sure."

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