By MARTIN BLACKBURN
PATRICE EVRA says Robin van Persie has given everyone at Old Trafford a Ruud awakening.
The Dutch Master bagged his 10th goal of the season for Manchester United when he opened the scoring in the 2-1 win against his old club Arsenal on Saturday.
And stand-in Red Devils skipper Evra believes the £22million summer signing is similar to United goal-scoring legend Ruud van Nistelrooy.
RVN banged in 150 goals in just five years with Alex Ferguson’s men — so his fellow countryman RVP has a long way to go yet.
But Evra said: “People can now see that Robin is strong mentally. He seems like he has played for us for many years and he reminds me of Van Nistelrooy.
“I hope he can keep going because he can be one of the best.
“I played with Ruud when I signed for United and remember what a great player he was.” Asked why he believes they are similar, Evra smiled: “First of all, they are both Dutch! But it’s the class and the touch they both have when you pass the ball to them.
“Robin is just a top-class player and you can see why United wanted him and why the gaffer worked so hard to get him. He has started so well and I just hope he can keep going because, at United, you have to do that in every game and we have to do everything we can to make sure he feels good.
“I hope he can keep going because he can be one of the best.”
Van Persie was given plenty of stick from travelling Gooners but Evra reckons he responded in the best possible way.
He said: “Everyone knows what a great player he was at Arsenal, but it is never easy to play against your old team-mates.
“We were not concerned with his attitude as he is a great professional and a great player. After two minutes, though, he scored a goal and it was a great start for him and for us.”
Van Nistelrooy’s record was particularly deadly in Europe and RVP will be in Champions League action in Braga on Wednesday.
Rio Ferdinand also reckons his new team-mate is getting better and better after already making a brilliant start.
The former England centre-back said: “He is growing every week. He is taking chance after chance.
“When he takes a chance he is always putting it in the back of the net.
“We all know the quality Robin van Persie has. If he gets a chance he will take it.
“It was good to see Robin get on the scoresheet against his old team but he’s been doing well for us. He’s a natural-born goalscorer and long may it continue that he keeps scoring.
“He showed a bit more class than their fans showed to him. It’s banter from their fans but he celebrated in the right way.”
