However, it proved to not be such a successful bow for Belgian defender Dedryck Boyata, who was part of the Bolton side that shipped five goals at home to Manchester United.
Over in Spain, Roque Santa Cruz was also in action for a new club as he featured as a 75th minute substitute in Real Betis’ 1-0 win over Mallorca.
Vladimir Weiss will have to wait to make his first appearance in La Liga as he remained bench-bound for the whole of Espanyol’s 2-1 victory against Athletic Bilbao.
John Guidetti’s Feyenoord came from behind to beat NAC Breda 3-1 – the Swede coming on just after the hour-mark and scoring his side’s third goal, but further down the Dutch Eredivisie table, Norwegian midfielder Abdi Ibrahim could do nothing to prevent his NEC side going down 1-0 at De Graafschap despite joining the action with 20 minutes remaining.
Neither Mohammed Abu nor Omar Elabdellaoui appeared for Norwegian outfit Stromgodset as they extended their winless streak to five matches with a 2-2 draw against Viking and despite returning to his homeland earlier this month, German goalkeeper Loris Karius was left out of Mainz’s 4-0 thrashing by Hoffenheim.
Back on the domestic scene, Ryan McGivern saw his Bristol City side beaten 1-0 by top-of-the-table Brighton in a result that leaves them hovering precariously above the relegation zone, while defensive duo Ben Mee and Kieran Trippier suffered defeat with Burnley in a 2-0 loss to high-flying Middlesbrough.
Michael Johnson is yet to appear for Leicester since his making his move to the King Power Stadium this summer and could arguably have proved the difference in the Foxes’ 1-1 draw with Barnsley had he been fit.
He wasn’t the only absentee as Ahmed Benali also sat out this weekend’s action - his Rochdale side hammered local rivals Bury 4-2 to claim their first win of the season
...Loan watch
Meanwhile David Gonzalez’s weekend was one of mixed fortunes as he claimed a clean sheet during Aberdeen’s goalless draw with Hibernian - but his side remain just one point off the bottom of the Scottish Premier League.
