Manchester United Will Hope Robin van Persie's Goal v Hull Can Spark His Season

MANCHESTER — If the win at Arsenal was a result to kick-start Manchester United's season, Louis van Gaal will hope Robin van Persie's strike against Hull City can spark his.

It's been a difficult few months for Van Persie since returning to Manchester after a successful World Cup in Brazil.

The Dutchman's goal against Hull was his fourth in the Premier League this season. But the United fans who watch him week in, week out have been speculating for a while about why he doesn't look quite the same player he once was.

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For a brief moment against Hull, after he had lashed a left-foot shot into the top corner from 20 yards, he looked like the player United signed from Arsenal in 2012.

It was the type of goal, oozing with skill, class and composure, that became a regular sight as Sir Alex Ferguson's team won their 20th title.

But, for whatever reason, the genius has appeared slightly faded so far this season.

Yes, he's coming off a a season that was ruined by injury. And yes, he had a long summer with the Netherlands and hasn't had the benefit of a pre-season with United.

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But, by late November, he should have caught up. And yet, in the build up to the game against Hull, there was talk he was on the verge of being dropped.

He answered that speculation in the best possible way, with a goal that should remind everyone that brilliance, even at 31-years-old, never just disappears overnight.

He still faces a fight for his place at United. Radamel Falcao played the last 20 minutes against Hull after recovering from a calf injury. And he hasn't moved to the Premier League from Monaco to sit on the bench. James Wilson, too, even at 18-years-old, is pushing for promotion from impact substitute to first-team starter.

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Another lifeless performance from Van Persie against Hull and Van Gaal would have had a difficult decision to make when Stoke City visit Old Trafford on Tuesday night. As it is, Van Persie will expect to keep his place—and rightly so.

Van Gaal conceded afterwards that Van Persie—playing, as Van Gaal put it, as both a No.9 and No.10 at different stages of the game—has room for improvement. He said something similar about his team after their win at Arsenal and was rewarded with what he described as their best performance of the season.

He will hope his analysis of Van Persie's contribution against Hull will have the same effect. Stoke City and Mark Hughes have been warned.

Quotes obtained first-hand.