Leeds United attacker Daniel James has experienced the ups-and-downs associated with the Whites throughout his first season at the club.
On the whole, though, he has been deemed a successful addition to the squad.
James left Manchester United at the eleventh hour of the summer transfer window for a fee reported to be in the region of £25 million.
Cristiano Ronaldo's return to Old Trafford facilitated the Welsh international's exit, and as a long-time admirer of the flighty wide-player, Marcelo Bielsa jumped at the chance to finally bring him to Elland Road on a permanent deal.
James started for Leeds' arch-rivals in the opening game of the 2021/22 Premier League season, as Man United ran out 5-1 winners over the Whites at Old Trafford.
Sunday's fixture provides James with the opportunity to remind Manchester United of the attributes they jettisoned when making room for Ronaldo.
This season, Daniel James has registered 3.8 Expected Goals (xG) for Leeds, as per FBRef - second only to Raphinha. By comparison, only three players in Manchester United's squad have registered a greater total: Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Mason Greenwood.
James' four goals since arriving last summer may not be a standout figure, but considering a vast proportion of his time on the pitch this season has been in an unfamiliar No. 9 role, his efforts should not be understated.
There will also be an element in James' performance this weekend of wanting to prove a point to his former employers.
The Welsh international was identified as a makeweight, discarded in order to re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo in a somewhat nauseating reunion of football's imperial powers.
Reminded of that fact, he will need little motivation to double as Leeds' centre-forward and inside man when facing Manchester United at Elland Road.
James spent two years at Old Trafford, working exclusively under the recently-sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
While the methods and coaching practices are likely to have changed since the introduction of interim manager Ralf Rangnick, the personnel James worked alongside has largely remained the same.
He can identify weaknesses in the Old Trafford rearguard better than any of his Leeds' teammates, has knowledge of specific players' likes and dislikes on the pitch, and can put that behind-closed-doors information to good use.
One particular area which may bear fruit for Leeds is James' former captain Harry Maguire.
The England defender has made 150 passes while under pressure from opponents this season - the fourth-highest in Man United's squad, and the most by a defender.
This strongly suggests opposition attackers target the Three Lions centre-back's first touch, and look to exploit his comfort in possession.
With James and Maguire's contrasting physical attributes, he will likely fulfil a similar brief to the one which saw him score twice, causing problems for Tyrone Mings last week, and Issa Diop before that.
