Moyes prepared to unleash Boy Wonder on Real

David Moyes is ready to launch Adnan Januzaj on the Champions League on Tuesday.

And he predicts the Belgium-born youngster could eventually succeed Wayne Rooney as Manchester United’s No.10.

The 18-year-old wonderkid, who United have just tied to a new five-year contract, has so far been held back from European football. However, the Old Trafford gaffer now considers he’s ready after another sparkling display from the youngster against Fulham yesterday.

But if he does decide to use the midfielder against Real Sociedad, it will be part of a carefully managed programme that has its roots in Sir Alex Ferguson’s treatment of Ryan Giggs and his own handling of the teenage Rooney.

“I don’t want to put too much expectation on the boy,” Moyes says. “He’s definitely ready to play but whether we use him is another issue.

“We’re trying to make sure we bring him along at the right pace. I will undoubtedly take him out of the team at times so it doesn’t get too much.

“It’s very much like Sir Alex did with Ryan and how I managed Wayne when he was a young player. I remember I used to get a bit of criticism because we played Wayne off the left a couple of times. Yet it was from there that he scored that famous debut goal against Arsenal.

“I think that in time Adnan’s best position may well be a No.10 but with young players it’s easier to introduce them off the left or the right. It didn’t do Wayne any harm. Adnan is so talented. He can play a number of positions. He’s a terrific centre-forward as well. I’m in no hurry to play him as a No. 10. We want to keep the reins on him and make sure he’s disciplined in what he does.

“The boy works really well at whatever job we give him. He has something I’ve not seen for a long, long time.”

When Moyes took the job in the summer, most observers felt that with no Champions League experience and 11 years as a Premier League manager, it would be European, rather than domestic games, that might pose a problem. Instead, United have struggled in the league but look like sailing through their qualifying group.

“I think it looks that way because we’ve tended to come off a bad result and gone straight into a Champions League game looking for the players to show a response,” he says. “I’ve really enjoyed the Champions League the build-ups, the stadiums, the fact the refereeing is completely different. It’s a challenge that requires something different in terms of management.

“I knew that the experience this club has in the tournament would help me. Ryan has played more games than anyone in the tournament and I’ve used him and others for advice.

“We have to make sure we do a good professional job on Tuesday. They’ve shown signs recently that they’ve been coming back to a bit of form. We know if we get a result it will put us in a strong position.”

Having been criticised for his lack of recruitment in the summer transfer window, Moyes has suggested United will not be desperate to make up for lost opportunities in January.

“We will look at it and if we can add to what we’ve got or move somebody on, it might happen,” he says.

“But it’s not something I’m going out my way to do.”