Manchester United 3-1 Hull City: 18-year-old James Wilson scores twice in debut (video)

James Wilson, one of two Manchester United academy products making their Premier League debut, scored in the 31st and 61st minutes, stealing his share of the headlines from two Red Devils stars who may have taken their final bows at the Theatre of Dreams dreams. Going on to defeat visiting Hull City 3-1, Manchester United moved within three points of England’s final Europa League spot. The club also saw two legends leave Old Trafford’s pitch for what may have been the final time.

Nemanja Vidic, out of contract at the end of the season. took the place of an injured Phil Jones early in the first half, and with 20 minutes left, interim manager Ryan Giggs handed in his own number. Vidic has already confirmed he will move to Italy’s Inter Milan next season, while may suspect Giggs will call en end to his 24-year career after the season.

If it is the end of Giggs’ playing days, it was only appropriate he left the field a winner, with an 18-year-old the manager handed his first cap repaying the interim boss’s faith. In the 31st minute, Wilson beat David Meyler and Nelson Figueroa to a ball knocked down by Marouane Fellaini, volleying home his first top-flight goal. Thirty minutes later, it was Martin cleaning up after Fellaini again, this time putting back the rebound of his teammate’s shot to put United up 2-0.

Two minutes later, Hull’s Matty Fryatt beat David de Gea to pull Steve Bruce’s team within one, the closest the visitors would come. With Robin Van Persie providing late insurance, the Red Devils claimed their second win in three games under Giggs, moving within three points of sixth place Tottenham Hotspur.

18-year-old James Wilson debuted with a brace at Old Trafford, leading the Red Devils to a 3-1 win over visiting Hull. (Photo: Getty Images.)

With a huge advantage in goal difference, United maintains hope of qualifying for Europe. A win on Sunday at Southampton combined with a Spurs loss against visiting Aston Villa would leave the Red Devils in sixth place, earning the club the Premier League’s last Europa League spot.

Manchester United controlled play from the opening kickoff, producing a chance for Wilson in the third minute. With Adnan Januzaj crossing to Fellaini, the home side was intent on taking advantage of the Belgian’s height, having put the midfielder in a similar position to that which he occupied at Everton. Though the move didn’t pay off in the opening minutes, a nearly identical attack just past the half-hour mark put United in front.

In the 31st minute, off a cross from Januzaj, Fellaini jumped over Curtis Davies to head back across the top of the six-yard box. Beating Meyler and Figueroa to the ball, Martin put a left-footed volley past Eldin Jakupovic for the game’s opening goal, giving United the one-goal lead they’d take into halftime.

Just past the hour mark, Martin struck again. Running onto a rebound after Fellaini was saved at close range, the England U-19 international doubled his club’s lead, giving the striker a dream debut to his Manchester United career.

Two minutes later, with their first shot of the game, Hull halved that led, with Matty Fyatt’s right-footed shot from outside the penalty area finding de Gea’s right corner. Despite that response, Hull would go on to be out-shot 18-2, with a 86th minute finish from Van Persie into the left of goal restoring Manchester United’s two-goal lead.

With the result, the Red Devils maintain a hope of playing European soccer next season, though the night will likely be remembered for other reasons. With their team’s win, the Old Trafford faithful are able to celebrate the departure of two of the club’s biggest names – player swho’ve contributed to so much of the club’s success in the Premier League era. And with an academy product’s debut double, fans were given reason to believe new stars are waiting to help their team back up the table.

LINEUPS

Manchester United: De Gea, Valencia, Jones, Smalling, Büttner, Carrick, Fellaini, Kagawa, Januzaj, Lawrence, Wilson

Goals: Wilson (31′, 61′), van Persie (86′)

Hull City: Jakupovic, Rosenior, Figueroa, Bruce, Davies, Meyler, Koren, Boyd, Quinn, Elmohamady, Long

Goals: Fryatt (63′)