Manchester Utd 4-0 Wigan: Alex Ferguson hails Nick Powell as successor to Paul Scholes as United ease past Wigan

Paul Scholes marked yet another landmark with the opener, netting on his 700th Manchester United appearance, before quick-fire strikes from Javier Hernandez and debutants Alexander Buttner and Nick Powell completed a routine victory.

Sir Alex Ferguson praised both new boys for their respective debuts, saying the all-action Buttner was "rash at times, but he has a great engine and great enthusiasm for the game," while Powell had enjoyed a "great day."

"He's going to be a really good player who, we hope, will fill Paul Scholes's boots. Terrific vision, good temperament, two feet, quick, a great striker of the ball for an 18-year-old boy. He's not 19 till next March."

Wigan went in at the break by far the happier of the two sides, having largely nullified the hosts in an even first half.

Justice was done when Javier Hernandez's fifth-minute penalty, awarded after Danny Welbeck stumbled under the softest of challenges from Ali al-Habsi, was saved by the Omani custodian, with Nani also wasting a great opportunity when put through on goal by Ryan Giggs.

Wigan chances came and went as Gary Caldwell headed over unchallenged and Arouna Kone fluffed his lines from a Jean Beausejour cross at the back post. The misses proved costly as United stepped up their play in the second half.

Scholes, who put in a typically tireless display at the heart of the United midfield, swept in his 163rd goal from six yards after al-Habsi could only parry a drive across the box.

Hernandez added a second just after the hour mark from point blank range, ghosting past the Wigan backline to hammer home, and summer recruit Buttner marked an impressive debut with a superb third goal.

Powell, who stepped off the bench to replace Scholes, then capped a dream debut of his own, rifling in the fourth from the edge of the box.