Wayne Rooney is struggling to find a place in the Manchester United (and England) team these days -- but the visit of Fenerbahce to Old Trafford on Thursday in the Europa League will bring back inspiring memories for him.
These days, eyebrows are not raised when Rooney starts on the bench, as he did in the 0-0 draw against Liverpool at Anfield, but his presence on the teamsheet was celebrated when he made his United debut against Fenerbahce in 2004.
Having made a £25 million move from his boyhood club Everton, Rooney -- who was only 18 at the time -- made a fairytale start to his United career by striking a hat trick in a 6-2 Champions League victory over the Turkish club. Below is a look back at what happened on that night.
FIRST GOAL - 17 MINUTES, MAKES IT 2-0
Ruud van Nistelrooy was just inside the opposition half, on the left hand side, then cut across into the middle. The Dutchman then threaded a pass forward for Rooney, who evaded Fenerbahce's defence and chased on to the loose ball. Twenty yards out, he struck a first-time effort into the middle of the net and slid on his knees in celebration.
SECOND GOAL - 28 MINUTES, MAKES IT 3-0
This time Rooney took advantage of Ryan Giggs' pass from the left, creating space for himself as he produced a smart feint that bemused the visiting captain Umit Ozan. That allowed Rooney to touch the ball to the right of the Fenerbahce player and a gaping hole of space suddenly opened up in front of him. After taking a cushioning touch with his right foot, 25 yards from goal, he fired a shot low and hard with the same boot and sent the ball into the far, left-hand corner.
THIRD GOAL - 54 MINUTES, MAKES IT 4-1
It was a free kick, just on the outside of the penalty area, in a central area. United had four players clustered together just a few yards to the right of Rooney. The United striker did not need to use them though as he sent a curling strike, with pace and power, beyond the grasp of the goalkeeper -- who dived the correct way, to his right, but could not get near the ball before it hit the net.
ROONEY'S REACTION?
"I think what really helped was grabbing that first goal early, which settled me into the game and helped me get two other goals. That was a special moment," he said.
"For my second... Giggsy rolled a cross back and I dropped my shoulder, took it past the defender and drilled it in to the bottom corner.
"For the hat trick goal, Giggsy was all set to take the free kick but I said to him, 'I think I'm going to score this, I fancy myself to score.' The game was more or less done at the time so he let me take it and thankfully it went in.
"After the game, we went back with my wife and two friends and I just sat down and couldn't believe what had just happened. That was when it really hit me that I'd just scored a hat trick on my debut.
"It was a great day for myself and the club, and is something I'll never forget. It's a night that will always be very special to me."
MANAGERS' REACTION?
United's Sir Alex Ferguson: "I don't suppose I have seen a debut like it. What you saw tonight is the reason why we signed him. And I think he can only get stronger now. We think the boy has great potential and it was a great performance and a great start by him."
Fenerbahce's Christoph Daum: "Maybe he will become the player of the century."