Ruud van Nistelrooy’s return is more than a PR move, and the Man Utd duo will benefit

Manchester United’s attempt to sign former striker Ruud van Nistelrooy to the coaching staff is more than a nostalgic PR move on the part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s new regime.

Van Nistelrooy proved to be one of the most prolific goalscorers in United’s history, with 150 goals from 219 games over five years, with the Dutchman averaging 30 goals per season.

Considering United finished with just 57 goals in the Premier League last season – the joint lowest in the top half of the table – their strikers could do with a few scoring tips from a master of the art.

One of the aspects of Erik ten Hag’s new contract at United will be a reshuffle of his coaching staff, with forwards coach Benni McCarthy unlikely to return to the club for pre-season.

That has opened the door for Van Nistelrooy to join compatriot Ten Hag at United, with Ratcliffe and his football team said to have backed the 47-year-old’s return.

Van Nistelrooy’s time at United may have ended in acrimony. He left Old Trafford in anger for the final match of the 2005–06 season against Charlton after learning he had been dropped.

That falling out with Sir Alex Ferguson eventually led to Van Nistelrooy’s departure that summer to Real Madrid, where he continued to score at a prolific pace, with 64 goals in 96 appearances.

But Van Nistelrooy has long since made peace with former boss Ferguson and his return to United will be seen as a smart move after such a poor goal for the Ten Hag side last season.

After scoring a career-best 30 goals last season, Marcus Rashford managed just eight last term, while £72m Rasmus Hojlund doubled that total in his debut season.

Both strikers can score many more and Hojlund in particular could learn a lot from Van Nistelrooy when it comes to the art of being in the right place at the right time and finding the net consistently.

Van Nistelrooy was unparalleled in terms of his movement in the six yard box, he knew when to time his runs to perfection to get on the end of crosses and loose balls so he could turn them over the line in a predatory manner, something which Hojlund had difficulty with. with last season.

Now in its 10th year ^e Van Nistelrooy has built an impressive reputation in the new phase of his career, from coaching in the youth academy at PSV Eindhoven, assisting former Dutch bosses Guus Hiddink and Ronald Koeman, to a season as coach of PSV, where he won the Dutch Cup , before resigning due to a perceived lack of support.

After turning down the chance to succeed Vincent Kompany and take over recently relegated Burnley, Van Nistelrooy is now set for an emotional return to United, where his expertise in the art of goal scoring could prove invaluable to Erik ten Hag, as he seems to want to portray. The turmoil of last season is behind him and the decision to continue to believe in him is confirmed.

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