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Spanish sensation Muniain out to impress against Man United

By Sportsmail Reporter Updated: 08:55 EDT, 7 March 2012

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Athletic Bilbao forward Iker Muniain is out to give Manchester United a major scare as the Spanish club look to boost their chances of reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

Athletic are underdogs heading into their clash with United, who suffered a surprise early exit out of this season's Champions League having reached three of the last four finals, but highly-rated teenager Muniain is determined not to let the English giants have an easy ride at Old Trafford on Thursday.

Eye-catching: Iker Muniain made his Spain debut against Venezuela

'It's a game we've been looking forward to for a long time. We're going there with every intention of giving Manchester United a scare and getting a positive result for the return leg,' he said.

'If we can keep the tie alive from Old Trafford, San Mames will be up for a big European night (in the return leg).'

Muniain, who is a good friend of Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea with the duo having been team-mates in the Spain youth ranks, also hopes his side can capitalise if the Red Devils show any sort of complacency.

'Maybe they could be affected by relaxing too much, which can happen if you feel superior to your opponents. We all know the high quality of their players, but sometimes subconsciously, you can relax too much and if we take advantage of that we can cause them some damage,' he added.

Pressure point: United's Spanish keeper David De Gea

Muniain scored in both legs of Athletic's success over Lokomotiv Moscow in the last 32 of the Europa League and has played an important role in the Basque club's march to the Copa del Rey final this season and climb into the top five of the Primera Division.

The 19-year-old also made his full Spain debut for the World Cup winners in the recent international friendly win over Venezuela.

Muniain's rise to prominence has not gone unnoticed in England, with various Premier League teams reportedly keeping an eye on him, but the Pamplona-born forward insists he is not looking to move away from San Mames any time soon.

'No, right now I don't see it (himself in the Premier League), I'm not thinking about anything else than this great club, which is what I love most. But, as I've said many times, in football you never know what can happen,' he said.