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David Hewitson/EMPICS Sport
Debut

Good first impressions: 6 dream Premier league debuts

This season’s crop of summer signings will hope to copy these memorable opening day Premier League debuts

THE OPENING WEEKEND of every Premier League season is one of the most exciting few days of the year for football fans.

Hope springs eternal for every supporter, no matter what club they follow and the players, especially new signings, look to make an immediate impact.

Here are six signings who earned themselves immediate hero status at their new clubs with scintillating opening day debuts.

Mark Robins

1992/93 v Arsenal

The current Huddersfield Town manager and the man who famously saved Alex Ferguson’s job during Manchester United’s run to the FA Cup in 1990 helped the Canaries to a superb -2 victory over Arsenal at Highbury on the opening day of the first ever Premier League season. The pick of the goals was Robins’ second, a sublime chip that left David Seaman stranded. Norwich would go on to finish the season in an incredible third place in the 92/93 season while Arsenal languished in a miserable 10th place.

YouTube: Sukoom·

Jurgen Klinsmann

1994/95 v Sheffield Wednesday

The legendary German striker joined Ossie Ardiles attacking Spurs side just after the 1994 World Cup and starred in a cracking opening-day duel with Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. The former Inter Milan and Bayern Munich legend scored an 82nd minute header to put Spurs 4-2 in front before a late David Hirst goal for Wednesday goal left the White Hart Lane men hanging on until the final whistle. Klinsmann left London at the end of the season with 21 goals and the Football Writers’ Player of the Year award.

YouTube: chesneyincognito

Stan Collymore

1995/96 v Sheffield Wednesday

Collymore had enjoyed a brilliant couple of season’s at Nottingham Forest before his British record £8.5million move to Anfield in 1995. He started promisingly for the Reds with a stunning individual goal on his debut against everyone’s favourite opening day victims Sheffield Wednesday. This superb strike electrified the Liverpool faithful but his time at Anfield was not a huge success and despite the front man bagging 35 goals in 81 games, and he was sold to Aston Villa after just two seasons.

YouTube: rattlehead85

Fabrizio Ravanelli

1996/97 v Liverpool

Middlesbrough pulled off a massive coup when they lured Italy and Juventus star Ravanelli to the Riverside in the summer of 1996. Affectionately known as “The White Feather” because of his distinctive hair, the striker recently appointed as manager of Ligue 1 outfit AC Ajaccio, scored an brilliant hat-trick on his debut for Bryan Robson’s men against visitors Liverpool.  It was enough to earn ‘Boro a draw on the day, but unfortunately Ravanelli’s goals would not be enough to save Middlesbrough that year as they suffered the ignominy of relegation come the season’s end, as well as defeat in both cup finals.

YouTube: youaremyboroTV

Sergio Aguero

2011/12 v Swansea

The Argentine hitman has proved a huge success at Manchester City, scoring the late, late winner in the final moments of the 2011/12 season to clinch City’s first title since 1968 and swipe it from under the noses of Manchester United. The former Atletico Madrid star served notice of his amazing ability with a brace on his Premier League debut after coming off the bench against new boys Swansea. His goals helped City to a routine 4-0 victory to kick-start their title winning campaign in style.

YouTube: agueroxCompsx

Michu

2012-13 v QPR

Miguel Pérez Cuesta, otherwise known as Michu, had a dream first season in the Premier League after his unhearalded move from Rayo Vallecano last July. The Spaniard pounced for two goals in an opening day demolition of QPR, as Michael Laudrap’s reign started better than anyone could have imagined. Michu became the darling of Fantasy Football followers everywhere with 18 goals and 2 assists, receiving rave reviews along the way.

YouTube: fifabafana

Join TheScore.ie’s Premier League Fantasy Football League using this code: 800052-191374; http://fantasy.premierleague.com

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