A year on, Lammens is handling the pressure

A year on from his Manchester United debut, Senne Lammens has learned what it is like to constantly be in the spotlight.

As our number-one goalkeeper, the media scrutiny is always intense but the unflappable Belgium international can reflect on the 12 months with a great sense of pride.

Bought as someone with potential, he has not looked back since making his bow, and keeping a clean sheet, against Sunderland at Old Trafford.

He has started every Premier League game since and is deputising for Thibaut Courtois at international level, on the back of appearing at his first World Cup finals.

Senne on duty

Senne on duty

During a press conference in his homeland, Lammens was asked if being under the microscope had changed him, since joining United.

"For me, personally, no but I can imagine that, for some players, it might change them a little bit," he replied.

"I think if you're not mentally strong and not confident in yourself, then sometimes that's difficult. What with all that pressure and a lot of people everywhere having something to say about it.

"For me, it's definitely good that I've played all those important matches in the Premier League and, for me, there's not much difference between the Premier League and playing here [for Belgium].

"I try to show my quality and move forward and I feel very good in the group. I also know the coach from Antwerp so the way we play, I feel good about the way it is going."

That coach, Mark van Bommel, is now in charge of Rode Duivels and he was alongside his keeper at the briefing. The Dutchman fielded a question about how much Senne had changed since they were at Antwerp together.

"He's not very different and that is the strength of Senne, that he, regardless of the circumstances, always plays the same," asserted the Belgium boss.

"That's his character and also in his quality, right? If you see how quickly he adapts at United, then that is a compliment - keeping clean sheets, having a connection with his defenders and with the team.

"So, in that regard, I don't see much difference."

The accompanying club-site video could not be retrieved. The article text and available photos are preserved.