When Gabriel Obertan joined Mancheser United in July, Laurent Blanc, his manager at Bordeaux, admitted his surprise that the Premier League champions had moved to secure his services.
After all, Obertan had spent the last few weeks of last season on loan at Lorient after failing to nail down a regular first team spot.
Yet four months into his Premier League career, the only surprise is that Obertan has not featured more after emerging as the most promising of the Old Trafford undercard during Wednesday's surprise Champions League reverse to Besiktas.
After David Bellion came and went without setting Old Trafford on fire, United fans had every right to be sceptical about the arrival of another young Frenchman.
While Danny Welbeck, Federico Macheda, Rafael da Silva and Darron Gibson failed to shine as United surrendered their 23-game unbeaten home run in Europe, Obertan's pace and trickery down the right delighted Sir Alex Ferguson on an otherwise night to forget for the United manager.
The Frenchman is only 20 yet possesses confidence beyond his tender years that bodes well for his future at the club.
Obertan covered just about every blade of grass and his delivery from the right was as impressive as his powerful bursts into the Besiktas danger area.
Having arrived in Manchester from Bordeaux just days after Cristiano Ronaldo had departed for Madrid, Obertan was touted, unfairly, as a replacement for the Portuguese superstar.
Although he shone on the right, he has also been used on the left but Obertan is keen to distance himself from comparisons with Ronaldo.
"I'm not Ronaldo's successor," said Obertan, who insists he has more to much offer. "I just try to be Gabriel Obertan and just work hard. There's no comparison possible for now.
"I tried to and want to do more. I've not scored yet or made an assist. I've had some good performances when I've come on, but I want to do more than that. I think I could do more. I really wish I could do more."
So, we get the message that Gabriel wants to do more - and Ferguson may be in the mood to give him the opportunity ot fulfil his wish and prove he is equipped for the English game.
Naturally, as a player schooled on the continent and another graduate from the impressive Clairefontaine finishing school outside Paris, questions have been asked as to whether Obertan can cut it in the hustle and bustle of the Premier League.
"I think it is better for me to play in England than France," added Obertan. "There is more space and the game is quicker."
Clearly, the player is in no doubt he can become a permanent fixture on the top-flight stage. So far, the evidence suggests he will be proved right.
