TEAMtalk guest Pete Hall believes Robin van Persie can emulate Ruud van Nistelrooy at Manchester United and be the catalyst for more success.

It is very hard not to get carried away when your new £24million striker bags a hat-trick on his second start for the club to snatch an away victory from the jaws of defeat.

Yet, in his post-match interview, all Robin van Persie could focus on was his embarrassing spot-kick, baffling himself as to why he attempted the audacious chip.

Having such high expectations of himself only further enhances the affections us Manchester United fans already have for the flying Dutchman.

Martin Tyler's commentary of Sergio Aguero's dramatic winner in last season's grand finale still grates every time we attempt to view anything on the Sky television, and a long and frustrating summer in the transfer market only added further to the growing restlessness across the red half of Manchester.

Linked with a host of big names, the more realistic of the United faithful knew we wouldn't be welcoming South American superstars left, right and centre, and one big-name signing, at best, was all we could hope our beloved American owners would spend on.

However, there had to be one to attempt to heal the pain of last season's surrender of our title to those noisy neighbours, and as he always seems to, Sir Alex Ferguson got that signing spot-on.

Aside from the Kleberson, Djemba-Djemba, Bellion and Forlan debacles, Ferguson has more often than not captured the right players, at the right time, and van Persie's arrival seems like another deal to add to the illustrious list of names.

Ruud van Nistlerooy's Old Trafford legacy lives long in the memory of those who saw him play week in, week out. He was capable of scoring against anyone, at anytime, as his incredible Champions League record of 38 goals in 47 appearances against Europe's elite shows.

Wayne Rooney's goal record is mightily impressive, and goals can come from all over the pitch, as they always have in Ferguson's teams throughout his tenure.

Yet, as we saw on that final day, one goal was enough to clinch a first Premier League crown for City, and a player with the goal-scoring prowess of Ageuro is all it took to accomplish this.

Van Persie has more to his all-round game than his fellow countryman ever had, but also some of the predatory senses that van Nistelrooy had in abundance; instincts you simply cannot teach.

The constant question will always be whether the Oranje star can play alongside Rooney, and whether their two egos can work as one.

Even if they don't set the world alight as a forward pairing, van Persie has the stature to take on the mantle of firing the goals needed to the Red Devils back where they need to be.

Much has been said of the current squad, and pundits around the world believe the signing of the Dutchman merely papers over the cracks of an average Manchester United squad, who have started the new campaign far from convincingly.

This season United will have to cope with the pending retirements of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, the last of the class of '92. They simply cannot go on forever.

However to build a dynasty that Giggs and Scholes were a huge part of, you need a linchpin, somebody to formulate a team around, much like Eric Cantona was to those young boys, as they were then.

I am not saying van Persie will have anywhere near the same effect on the club as the enigmatic Frenchman, but he is experienced enough to be able to shoulder the responsibility of being the focal point of the team.

Last season, he almost singlehandedly carried Arsenal, who, without his goals, would have almost certainly faced mid-table mediocrity, and he is more than capable of matching the expectations of the Stretford End.

This may all seem way over the top after just three appearances, but I have immense faith in our treasured chieftain, who always has the long-term interests of the club at heart, and doesn't make decisions that will only have immediate impact.

There isn't a great deal of money available anymore, and to spend that sort of cash on a 29-year-old striker with a chequered injury past, Ferguson must have a deep-rooted agenda to oversee this period of change at the club.

Off-field problems haven't helped our pre-season, with the Glazers' seemingly doing their utmost to annoy even the most placid Old Trafford regular, but to see van Persie getting into those predatory positions, like the good old van Nistelrooy days, I could not help but get carried away.

He has the experience, ability and temperament at the club to be able to lead the line for many years, and watch how for one last parting gift, Sir Alex builds a team capable of dominating English football for another 10 years.

This clearly isn't the team of '99. We have a talented squad, but one that is capable of achieving such success? No.

Yet, with three years at the top still ahead of him, van Persie can oversee a new era, and score a hatful of goals while he's at it.

You can follow Pete on Twitter at @pistolpeteh86.