Early United hat-tricks

Amid all the excitement on Sunday, it's worth putting Robin van Persie's achievement into perspective after his hat-trick ensured a 3-2 win against Southampton.

The new signing took just three games for Manchester United – two starts – to bag a treble and elevate him to an elite group of players who have quickly become Old Trafford heroes with their goalscoring exploits.

The only player in the current squad who has scored a hat-trick earlier in his United career than van Persie is, of course, Wayne Rooney, who smashed three goals on his debut in a Champions League tie with Fenerbahce in 2004. This equalled a feat managed for the Reds by Charlie Sagar in 1905.

A number of post-War stars have netted hat-tricks in their first season, including the recently-departed Michael Owen who showed vintage form in the win at Wolfsburg in his 20th appearance but only eighth start.

Stuart Pearson took only nine games to blast a treble, with all his goals coming in the