Van Persie return at Chelsea to provide short-lived Moyes relief

After getting off to a winless start in 2014, David Moyes must be living life under a cloud of utter darkness at the moment.

However, news that goal-machine striker, Robin van Persie, is back in training with the defending champions must pierce through the thick, dark outlook like a eternal ray of sunshine.

The Dutchman was last seen in the United red during the club’s 1-0 win over Shakhtar in December, where he injured himself taking the corner that led to Phil Jones’ goal.

While Van Persie nursed his thigh injury, United turned a six-game winning streak in all competitions, which started with that Champions League win, into a three-match slump to kick off the New Year.

In a blink of the eye, a sunny disposition has become a bleak crisis and the number 20’s return will be a welcome lift of the Old Trafford spirits.

The former Arsenal frontman has scored seven times in league outings for United this season and is in line for a return to action when his side travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea.

While that may instantly cause Ladbrokes customers to take the 3/1 on offer for the Red Devils to win that match, they’d be wise to hold off on the urge.

Van Persie featured in two of the pair’s five meetings last season, both of which were in the league, and was on the winning side once, failing to score on both occasions.

In fact, the 30-year-old’s record against the men from the King’s Road hasn’t been too inspiring throughout his career, managing just six goals in 15 Premier League battles with the Blues.

The fact he’s only scored once in the past three meetings with the west London side indicate he isn’t the man to rescue United on this particular occasion, with the 9/10 on a Chelsea win a far more sensible betting approach.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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