Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal gave rising French star Anthony Martial his first start on Tuesday by including him in their Champions League opener at PSV Eindhoven.

The 19-year-old Martial, signed from Monaco on transfer deadline day for a reported fee of £36 million ($55 million, 49 million euros), will make his debut together with recently transferred former PSV and Dutch international player Memphis Depay.

Martial is slotting into injured United skipper Wayne Rooney's position as premier striker, while Depay has been deployed on the left wing.

Martial impressed by stepping off the bench to score United's third goal in a 3-1 win against Liverpool on Saturday and Van Gaal was said to have been under pressure to hand the rising teenage star his first start.

The Red Devils and PSV are clashing in Eindhoven in this Champion's League Group B curtain-raiser.