Netherlands coach Danny Blind was not surprised by the impact of two-goal substitute Memphis Depay in his side's 3-1 World Cup qualifying win in Luxembourg.
Blind's side struggled to dismantle Group A minnows Luxembourg at the Stade Josy Barthel and were being held 1-1 at half-time when Manchester United striker Depay replaced Wesley Sneijder and went on to score two match-clinching goals.
Arjen Robben had opened the scoring in the 36th minute, but Netherlands were pegged back by Luxembourg just before the break when defender Maxine Chanot converted a penalty.
"I told him before the game that he had earned a starting spot,'' Blind told ONSOranje.
Depay has struggled to force his way into Jose Mourinho's starting lineup at Old Trafford this season, but seized on the chance Blind gave him.
"His attitude in training was good,'' Blind said. "He also made a passionate impression. His two goals were a nice reward for him and the team.''
Everton boss Ronald Koeman had earlier confirmed he is interested in Depay away from United, but the player was noncommittal after the game.
"I do not know, we'll have to see," Depay was quoted as saying by The Mirror. "I focus on United, I do my very best to be able to get minutes.
"I'm going back to United with a good feeling, because I have got minutes here and we won. That is the most important thing."
Victory saw Netherlands leapfrog Sweden into second place on goal difference in the Group A table, three points behind leaders France, but it was a far from convincing display.
"Luxembourg were very well-organized, but were defensively weak to moderate,'' Blind said. "We got plenty of chances.''
Blind was critical of defender Joshua Brenet, who made his first start for his country and whose clumsy challenge on home striker Daniel da Mota just before the break led to Chanot's equalising penalty.
"Joshua Brenet should have been smarter,'' Blind added. "We agreed that if someone would come by [a defender], we would rely on our keeper. Yet he caused a penalty. It's a learning experience for him.''
Skipper Robben blamed a poor playing surface after his international return lasted only 45 minutes.
The Bayern Munich winger had not featured for Netherlands for a year due to injury and was forced off at the interval with a hamstring strain.
"During a counter-attack I felt a cramp in my hamstring,'' Robben said. "Given my history, you should not take any chances.
"And that is very difficult, because you want to continue. Anyway, I think it's a shame that we have to play on a bad pitch.
"That certainly has had an effect on our game. Nevertheless, I think we can do a lot better, but we won. These are three important points.''
The 32-year-old then told NOS of the injury: "The word 'injury' is probably a little bit too heavy and I hope it is not bad.
"But of course it was not nice that I had to leave the field. I had to defend a counter-attack and attempted a sprint. I felt a brief cramp at the back of my thigh.
"When we arrived in the dressing room after the first half I had a discussion with the team doctor and we decided not to start the second half.
"I used my head and did not get caught up the emotion. You want to keep playing, but it is wiser not to do this. Of course, you always feel responsibility, even towards my club Bayern Munich and therefore this was the best decision."