Januzaj: A Year To Remember

Adnan Januzaj celebrated his 19th birthday early by being named ManUtd.com Player of the Month, as voted by fans around the world – an appropriate accolade not just for his January form but as a measure of his meteoric rise in his first full year as an adult.

We trace Adnan's steps month by month as he emerged as one of United's brightest young stars...

February 2013 Adnan scores his first United Under-21s goal against Southampton on 2 February, three days short of his 18th birthday. In fact, in eight days he scores twice – netting in the 7-0 Manchester Senior Cup win over Oldham - and sets up another in a 2-2 league draw with Arsenal.

March Despite still being eligible for the U18s, Januzaj is an U21 regular and adapts to a variety of attacking roles: lone striker, winger and no.10. His form hasn't gone unnoticed. "Adnan is a beautifully balanced player," says Sir Alex Ferguson. "He's 18 and still to grow into his frame but he has good balance, good acceleration and is a very technical player."

April Januzaj is proving to be an integral part of Warren Joyce's trophy-chasing U21s and his rise up the ranks carries an air of inevitability. Late in the month, he is handed the no.44 Premier League shirt number and a Reds debut appears imminent.

May During six days in May, Januzaj collects the Denzil Haroun Reserve Player of the Year trophy at United's end-of-season awards ceremony, as voted by fans; is named on the bench in the 5-5 draw with West Brom, Sir Alex's final game in charge of United; then helps the U21s clinch league glory. A senior debut will have to wait, but a path full of promise has already been mapped out.

July New Reds boss David Moyes names a 19-man squad for the start of the pre-season Tour 2013, and Adnan is among the Reds jetting off to Bangkok. He makes six appearances on a globe-trotting tour, including three starts, and Januzaj scores against Kitchee.

August Having impressed on tour, Adnan is handed his competitive debut by Moyes in the Community Shield triumph over Wigan Athletic; collecting his first silverware for United in his first appearance - at Wembley, too.

September Moyes decides to leave Adnan out of first-team action during a tough start in the Premier League fixture calendar, but the second month of the campaign heralds his first league appearance - an impressive substitute display against Crystal Palace, with further outings against Liverpool in the Capital One Cup and West Brom in the league.

October Januzaj shoots to prominence as a surprise starter at Sunderland. Two brilliant goals in a Man-of-the-Match display inspire a 2-1 comeback win and suddenly Adnan Januzaj is the name on everyone's lips. His second goal, a superb left-foot volley, is voted United's Goal of the Month, and he takes the monthly player award too. A new five-year contract rewards his efforts. "He's an outstanding talent," enthuses Moyes, while Januzaj adds: "It's a great thrill to sign for United. This season has been great - it's like a dream."

November Initially not named in United's 25-man Champions League 'A' list squad, Januzaj qualifies for the 'B' list (made up of players who have come through clubs' Academies) and he travels with the team to the Basque country, but doesn't play against Real Sociedad. Januzaj also excels away at Fulham – setting up Robin van Persie's goal in a 3-1 win - and against Cardiff.

December Januzaj is shortlisted for the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award among a host of sportspeople based in the UK. He is the only footballer among 10 nominees, in a post-Olympic year, highlighting an incredible, life-changing 2013. He scores in a 3-1 win over West Ham during seven appearances in December.

January 2014 Januzaj catches the eye in a difficult month for the team, but he makes seven promising appearances and earns 75 per cent of votes in ManUtd.com's Player of the Month poll, placing him ahead of fellow nominees Danny Welbeck and Chris Smalling.