Robin van Persie is set to make his Manchester United home debut against Fulham on Saturday, following in the footsteps of compatriot Ruud van Nistelrooy 11 years previously.
Van Nistelrooy, a £19m signing from PSV Eindhoven in the summer of 2001, was prolific in pre-season and had already struck on his debut versus Liverpool in the Charity Shield. His first competitive test however came against Fulham at Old Trafford a week later.
The Cottagers were back in the top flight for the first time in 33 years and spearheaded by Louis Saha, who effectively ended Jaap Stam's Red Devils career as he scored twice, tormenting a forlorn Gary Neville in the process.
But Van Nistelrooy began as he had intended, lobbing in an equaliser over future team-mate Edwin van der Sar before poaching a winner from two yards out minutes later.
Before his £10m sale to Real Madrid five years later, Van Nistelrooy scored 150 goals in 219 games for United, averaging 30 a season. Van Persie has a long way to go if he is to intensify United fans' love affair with Dutchmen to have played in the red and white.