Premier League release throwback match ball that has bad omens for Man United

The latest offering from Nike features gold, red and blue crosses, in reference to the chevrons which adorned the beloved old Mitre ball in the top flight's very first campaign back in 1992/93.

The nostalgia-inducing colour scheme will remind fans of Teddy Sheringham, Les Ferdinand and Alan Shearer smashing in goals as Manchester United won the first year of the breakaway competition - although their campaign didn't get off to the best of starts.

Mitre had the monopoly on top flight match balls until the turn of the millennium, when Nike took over, and since then they haven't looked back.

The American company has produced a number of iconic balls, with the Total 90 Aerow a regular fixture on Sunday league pitches and school playgrounds through its four-year reign.

From the debut Nike Geo Merlin to the current Nike Flight, the new season's match ball will keep the Flight name, but with a clear nod back to the Mitre Pro Max which ushered in the new competition.

The first time the Pro Max ever found the back of the net was when Sheffield United's Brian Deane slotted it in against Manchester United at Bramall Lane, for the new league's first ever goal.

The Blades won that fixture 2-1 on August 15 in 1992.

New Man United boss Erik ten Hag will be hoping the throwback won't be a bad omen when he faces Brighton in his first game as Red Devils boss.