Anthony Martial v Kevin De Bruyne: Who Has Made The Bigger Impact?

As two of the summer's biggest transfers prepare to face off in Sunday's Manchester derby, we assess the impacts Anthony Martial and Kevin De Bruyne have had since moving to the Premier League.

Martial's breathtaking adaptation to life at one of the world's biggest clubs has seen him emerge as one of the signings of the summer. His stunning debut strike against Liverpool, followed by a number of match-winning performances, have seen him firmly silence those doubting his £36million transfer fee.

While United's gamble on a relatively unknown French striker appears to be paying off, City are reaping the rewards from investing in proven quality. De Bruyne's transition from Bundesliga to Premier League has been both seamless and timely, with the absence of key figures Sergio Aguero and David Silva masked by his fine performances.

But who has made the best start? And how will United and City negate the threat posed by Martial and De Bruyne? Sky Sports pundits Andy Hinchcliffe and Paul Merson have argued a case for both ahead of Sunday's much-anticipated clash at Old Trafford.

IMPACT

Both Martial and De Bruyne have taken English football by storm since signing for their respective clubs, scoring 10 goals between them. But just how much of an impact have they made?

ANDY ON MARTIAL: "You have to look at Martial's age and rawness. Coming into a club like Manchester United with all the expectancy with the number nine shirt, for him to play and score goals the way he has is really impressive. He has come in and provided goals this season where Wayne Rooney has struggled. He is in there to score goals and we saw that against CSKA Moscow on Wednesday. He looks very composed and you can clearly see why United have bought him."

MERSE ON DE BRUYNE: "De Bruyne has performed in every game he's played for City. You can't get a bigger goal than the one he got against Sevilla in the last minute of the game. Kevin De Bruyne is different gravy and United will have to keep him quiet, he has been outstanding. When he first came, I thought they had spent a lot of money but when you weigh it up, he looks a snip."

WHAT HAS IMPRESSED YOU?

Whether it be Martial's unerring composure in front of goal or De Bruyne's flawless all-round repertoire, it's fair to say both have quickly showcased their talents in the Premier League. What have you been most impressed with?

ANDY ON MARTIAL: "I don't necessarily look at the amount of goals a player scores, I tend to focus on what he can bring to a team, and Martial has a bit of everything. He can play wide, through the middle, run the channels, utilise his pace and hold the ball up. While it may be about what he can do in the future, it's about what he can do now and he has an awful lot in his locker already."

MERSE ON DE BRUYNE: "You can tell De Bruyne has played at the top level for a while, whereas Martial looks like a young kid that has come from Monaco. De Bruyne has played at Chelsea and Wolfsburg and it shows. He has hit the ground running in a very hard league. I like everything about his game - he sees a pass, he scores goals, he is confident and plays the game at his own pace."

IMPORTANCE TO TEAM?

Many would have doubted the level of importance Martial and De Bruyne would be bringing so early in their careers at United and City. How crucial are they to Van Gaal and Pellegrini?

ANDY ON MARTIAL: "He will have a huge say in which way Sunday's derby goes. In a very tight game, it could be one of those games where a youngster rises to the occasion, plays out of his skin and scores a goal that you wouldn't expect from younger players. Younger players can go under in the big games but there is no evidence to suggest he feels the pressure. He has come in and provided goals this season where Rooney has struggled. He is there to score goals and we saw that against CSKA Moscow on Wednesday."

MERSE ON DE BRUYNE: "If Martial doesn't perform on Sunday, United still have the capabilities to win the game. I'd be absolutely shocked if De Bruyne puts in a five out of 10 performance and City win the game, he is already that important to them. I am surprised at how important he is to City, but when you make the most assists in the Bundesliga without playing for Bayern Munich, it doesn't surprise me that much."

HOW DO YOU STOP HIM?

The focus now switches to Sunday's Manchester derby and what United and City can do to stop their opponents' star summer signing from continuing their impressive start. But just exactly how will they be able to do this?

ANDY ON MARTIAL: "First things first, Vincent Kompany has to play. The stats will tell you City are very secure with him at the back and that gives them basis to break forward and attack. United under Van Gaal are regimented in the way they play, so I don't think City will target Martial individually. There is a way of defending against United where you can cope with them. That will be City's plan, to keep the back four set and not give Martial space to get in behind."

MERSE ON DE BRUYNE: "What United have to do is replicate what Sevilla did in the first half on Wednesday, they have to get him worrying about defending. They need to isolate him and play around him in defensive positions. If City dominate the game and play high up the field though, then I don't see a way of stopping him. United have to keep tabs on him in space, because he'll just orchestrate pacey City attacks."

Credit: Skysports.com