Renato Sanches and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain endure tough starts: How all the Premier League debutants rated from new stars to academy hopefuls

  • Renato Sanches and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain struggled on debuts
  • Davide Zappacosta enjoyed promising cameo off the Chelsea bench
  • Mixed fortunes for West Brom new boys Grzegorz Krychowiak and Kieran Gibbs

Following the international break, a number of Premier League sides were ready to throw out debuts to players signed on deadline day in the transfer window.

But it wasn't just late signings making their first top flight appearances as academy youngsters and fringe players also made the step up as Sportsmail looks back at the best and worst of the debutants from the weekend.

 
Nick Pope came off the bench and kept a clean sheet as Burnley defeated Crystal Palace 1-0

Nick Pope came off the bench and kept a clean sheet as Burnley defeated Crystal Palace 1-0

BURNLEY


Nick Pope - 7.5/10

Not the debut Burnley fans would have expected - Phil Bardsley was the only likely candidate from the substitute's bench.

But the 25-year-old was called upon to replace Tom Heaton after the England stopper was forced off injured in the first half.

Pope had only played in a handful of cup matches for the Clarets but was assured in commanding his box and made a good stop to deny Christian Benteke. 

 
Davide Zappacosta replaced Victor Moses at wing-back and nearly scored on his debut

Davide Zappacosta replaced Victor Moses at wing-back and nearly scored on his debut

CHELSEA 

Davide Zappacosta - 6.5/10

Not given much time to make an impact after replacing Victor Moses at wing-back for the final 17 minutes while Chelsea were leading 2-1.

But the £25million signing from Torino nearly got on the scorehseet, after collecting an Eden Hazard pass and firing inches wide of the post.

Blues fans will hope there is more still to come from the 25-year-old whose brief introduction showed promise. 

 
Levi Lumeka snatched at a half-chance as Crystal Palace fell to defeat at Turf Moor

Levi Lumeka snatched at a half-chance as Crystal Palace fell to defeat at Turf Moor

CRYSTAL PALACE 

Levi Lumeka - 6.5/10

Not quite a deadline day signing but it was a senior debut for the 19-year-old. 

By the time the forward was thrown on, it was already desperate times for Crystal Palace who were 1-0 down at Burnley with just 25 minutes left.

But Lumeka was an upgrade on the man he replaced in Lee Chung-yong and came close to grabbing an equaliser before firing off target.

 
Nikola Vasic was given a cameo 10 minutes in the midfield against Tottenham Hotspur

Nikola Vasic was given a cameo 10 minutes in the midfield against Tottenham Hotspur

EVERTON 

Nikola Vlasic - 6/10

A low key debut for the 19-year-old who was given the final 10 minutes after replacing Idrissa Gueye.

An £8million arrival from Hajduk Split it would have taken something remarkable for the midfielder to change the game with the Toffees already looking well beaten while 3-0 down against Tottenham Hotspur.

Vlasic though was delighted to get on the Goodison Park pitch, telling evertontv: 'There’s a lot of emotions. It was a very special moment for me.'

 
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was ineffective in his 45 minutes for 10-man Liverpool at Man City

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was ineffective in his 45 minutes for 10-man Liverpool at Man City

LIVERPOOL

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 6/10

Can't seem to escape a thrashing right now. His last game for Arsenal was a 4-0 defeat and his first for Liverpool was a 5-0 loss at Manchester City.

It was a thankless task though for the England midfielder who was introduced to the second half at the Etihad Stadium with his side 2-0 behind and down to 10 men.

Even so, the £35million star still had very little impact and will have to improve .

 
Jesus Gamez plugged the troublesome left-back gap effectively on his Premier League debut

Jesus Gamez plugged the troublesome left-back gap effectively on his Premier League debut

NEWCASTLE UNITED 

Jesus Gamez - 7/10

Ok, this isn't strictly a league debut as having arrived at St James' Park in the summer of 2016, Jesus Gamez featured five times in the side promoted from the Championship last term.

But the 32-year-old did make his Premier League debut at the Liberty Stadium and stood up strong to the Swansea attack that had targeted his flank. 

The Spaniard isn't a long term solution at left-back but did little wrong in the Toon's 1-0 victory. 

 
Wesley Hoedt still needs time to settle at Southampton after making his debut in defence

Wesley Hoedt still needs time to settle at Southampton after making his debut in defence

SOUTHAMPTON 

Wesley Hoedt - 6/10

On scoreline alone, Hoedt looked like not cutting the mustard after lining up alongside Jack Stephens in a Southampton defence that lost 2-0 at home against Watford.

But with both goals long range strikes, there was little the £15million arrival from Alkmaar could do in a solid if only ordinary showing.

Stephens looked marginally the better of the two defenders but the 23-year-old deserves time to settle and could emerge as the front runner to partner Virgil van Dijk.

 
Stoke City's Kevin Wimmer slides in to deny Manchester United's Romelu Lukaku the ball

Stoke City's Kevin Wimmer slides in to deny Manchester United's Romelu Lukaku the ball

STOKE CITY

Kevin Wimmer - 5.5/10

Having been picking up splinters on the Tottenham bench previously, Wimmer was thrown in the deep end in a full debut against Manchester United.

Lining up in a back-three the Potters star was often the spare man and his positional sense was lacking in the 2-2 draw at the Bet365 Stadium.

The Austria international though has shown he can play in the Premier League and a run in the side may still see Mark Hughes get the best out the £24million centre-back.

 
There was much hype for Renato Sanches but the midfielder failed to shine on Swansea debut

There was much hype for Renato Sanches but the midfielder failed to shine on Swansea debut

SWANSEA CITY 

Renato Sanches - 5/10

All eyes were on the star signing from Bayern Munich and the first five minutes were promising with a neat set of touches looking towards getting Swansea playing with a fast tempo.

But it was all downhill from there as the tricks were soon replaced by careless passes and a consistency only to give the ball away before being replaced by Wilfried Bony on 69 minutes.

Possibly still a little off match fitness, but Paul Clement will be wanting much more from his midfielder sooner rather than later. 

 
After a strong start Grzegorz Krychowiak faded in the West Bromwich Albion midfield

After a strong start Grzegorz Krychowiak faded in the West Bromwich Albion midfield

WEST BROMWICH ALBION 

Grzegorz Krychowiak - 5.5/10

Tony Pulis claimed the midfielder needs more time after signing on loan from the fringes of the Paris Saint-Germain first team.

The star of Poland's march towards the European Championship quarter-finals failed to sparkle at Brighton as West Brom fell to a disappointing 3-1 defeat on the south coast

'With Gregor, that’s his first game for a long time,' Pulis said. 'He’ll get better.I thought he done alright, but he’ll get better with game time.'

Kieran Gibbs - 6.5/10

Given just over 33 minutes to make an impact after coming on as a second half substitute.

But the former Arsenal full-back was key in the Baggies' consolation goal, with his cross played into the path for James Morrison to strike late on.

Like Krychowiak, the 27-year-old is still looking to get up to match fitness.

Kieran Gibbs helped create West Brom's consolation goal in a 3-1 defeat at Brighton

Kieran Gibbs helped create West Brom's consolation goal in a 3-1 defeat at Brighton