Memphis Depay has struggled since his arrival at Manchester United, scoring just two Premier League goals in 29 appearances in his debut season.
Now, the Dutchman must impress a new boss in Jose Mourinho, following compatriot Louis van Gaal's sacking at Old Trafford.
Here, Samuel Luckhurst from the Manchester Evening News assesses what the Special One's appointment might mean for the former PSV Eindhoven winger...
As Memphis trudged back to the halfway line and the Britannia Stadium's grim reaper, clad in a Jose Mourinho mask, goaded Louis van Gaal, one press box attendant's diagnosis for the Manchester United winger was terminal.
"There is no way he's staying if Mourinho comes."
Memphis had just executed a horrendous tribute to Robin van Persie's diving header against Spain to gift Stoke their opener on Boxing Day. In a dire first-half performance, Memphis was game but his errors had decided his fate and he was hooked at half-time for the third occasion in his short Manchester United career.
Manchester United had tentatively touched base with Mourinho's representatives barely a week after Chelsea dismissed him and, as the Stoke supporter adjacent to the away dugout suggested, Van Gaal was a dead manager walking. Memphis was, perhaps, a dead winger walking.
Memphis, an erratic and intuitive winger who is a defensive liability, does not fit Mourinho's profile. He distrusted Joe Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips on the flanks. Damien Duff, Arjen Robben and Andre Schurrle were sold. Samuel Eto'o and Goran Pandev were converted into altruistic attackers at Inter. Angel di Maria enjoyed his best Real Madrid campaign after Mourinho left.
Eden Hazard was barracked for his unwillingness to 'sacrifice' himself at Chelsea before Mourinho turned him into a Player of the Year winner and Willian flourished in Mourinho's last four months at Chelsea mainly due to his selflessness.
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