Macheda vows to make his mark at United after two-year struggle since dramatic debut

By Chris Wheeler for the Daily Mail Updated: 17:59 EST, 20 July 2011

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Success came quickly for Federico Macheda. Perhaps too quickly.

Now, more than two years after that goal against Aston Villa and the most dramatic of Manchester United debuts, the Italian teenager knows he faces a battle to reclaim his place in the Old Trafford spotlight.

Macheda was a 17-year-old unknown when he turned the 2009 title race in United's favour, spinning on the edge of the area deep into injury-time to curl home the decisive goal in an epic 3-2 victory over Villa. A week later he came off the bench again to deflect in an equally valuable winner at Sunderland.

Take it as Fed: Macheda scores against Villa and turns the title race in United's favour

Macheda had become an overnight sensation, although he can see now that the expectations he raised then have not been entirely healthy for his fledgling career.

Just two more senior goals have followed in 25 games as he has struggled to live up to the early hype. Injuries in his second season did not help either.

But it took a disastrous six-month loan spell back home in Italy to convince Macheda just how lucky he was to be a United player and what he had to lose.

Loaned out to Sampdoria in January, he failed to score in 14 Serie A appearances as the Genoa club were relegated and the player nicknamed Kiko by his teammates effectively became a a prisoner in his own home.

'I had a tough time,' admitted Macheda. 'I couldn't really go out of my house in the six months I was there because there was always the chance you'd end up fighting with the Sampdoria fans who were angry with us, so it wasn't the best situation.

'It's not like with United. The fans in Italy can be a little crazy when things don't go well. But I think it's right like this. There are fans who pay a lot from their wages to follow the team, so sometimes it happens and you have to accept that.

Boy done good: Match-winner Macheda is congratulated by manager Sir Alex Ferguson

'When you leave United to go to another team, you can see the difference. When you come back you have a better focus and can see things a lot more clearly, with another mentality.

'In that way, going to Sampdoria was good. It was a bad spell but sometimes a bad experience like that can make you a better man and a better player.

'The six months away from United has made me grow up a lot.

'Sometimes, particularly when you have a debut like mine, people expect you to score fantastic goals in every game which is not easy for a player. I was only 17 at the time, so I was a young boy.

'I always had my feet on the ground. My debut was fantastic but it's not easy to have a debut like that. Then it wasn't easy for me to establish myself because I didn't play every game.

'I'm happy with what I've done for United in the past, but now I'm back I want to do more.'

Macheda is still only 19. But such is the competition for the striker positions at Old Trafford that he knows he can no longer get by on potential alone.

Back in business: Macheda fires a timely reminder to Ferguson by scoring against New England Revolution

Javier Hernandez's sensational first season in England has raised the bar while establishing the Mexican as second in the pecking order behind Wayne Rooney.

And with Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to give Michael Owen a new contract followed in recent days by an assertion from the United boss that Dimitar Berbatov is unlikely to be sold and Danny Welbeck will not go out on loan again, Macheda knows that competition for places could not be greater.

Scoring two goals after coming off the bench in the opening game of United's pre-season tour against New England Revolution has done him no harm at all, and Macheda was expected to be given another opportunity against Seattle Sounders in the early hours of this morning (thurs).

But he will not need reminding that he scored twice inside the opening quarter of an hour when United beat the MLS All-Stars in Houston last summer only to fade away once the season began.

'I haven't spoken to the boss but I want to stay and I hope he's happy with the way I played against New England,' said Macheda, a product of Lazio's youth system who joined United in 2007 and is under contract at Old Trafford until 2014.

'There are a lot of good strikers at the club, all of them good players. Rooney, Berba, Chicharitio and Michael Owen are strikers with great experience. They have played enough games to be considered great.

'But even though there is a lot of competition for places, I know that if the boss gives me a chance I'll take it.'