SOLSKJAER v VAN NISTELROOY: THE RED DEVIL DEBATE
The Dutchman is among the top three strikers in the Premiership in terms of goal return having beaten the 'keeper 21 times during his inaugural season on English soil. Only Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Thierry Henry have been more prolific to date.
Meanwhile, Solskjaer has played 10 hours less top-flight football this term than his 25-year-old counterpart and scored five fewer goals, yet he has netted with greater frequency. The impish Norwegian has celebrated a successful strike every 110 minutes on average - three minutes quicker than van Nistelrooy's mean rate.
Solskjaer also boasts a better chance conversion ratio having scored with a third of his shots on target - seven percentage points better than his multi-million pound colleague - effectively making him the most clinical predator in the Premiership. With a tally of three goals in his last four league outings, the Depor rearguard would do well to limit his time in the penalty area, especially as all of the Norwegian international's league strikes have been unleashed from close range.
There is a similarity in the pair's Champions League performances also. Van Nistelrooy is the leading marksman in the competition with nine goals - four more than his partner - yet Solskjaer has achieved a marginally greater goals-to-shots ratio (29%). The 29-year-old has played half the amount of time that the Dutch ace has on the European stage, but he has averaged a strike every 87 minutes on average - far superior to van Nisterooy's rate (105).
While the former PSV star's appeal lies primarily in his deadly finishing and ability to expertly deposit the ball past the 'keeper, Solskjaer has been more successful in other areas of his game.
The former Molde striker has distributed possession with greater precision in the opposition half than van Nistelrooy in both the Premiership and the Champions League, which perhaps accounts for his greater haul of assists.
United's number 20 has set up an industrious tally of eight goals for his fellow Red Devils in the league - twice as many as the Oranje forward- although he has yet to contribute in Europe's premier club competition. Solskjaer has also yielded more success when taking on his opponents, registering a greater dribble success rate than van Nistelrooy on league duty and on the continent.
As an all-round competitor, the Scandinavian hitman has proved to be a better complete package so far this term with a combination of deft accuracy and timely goals. However, in terms of sheer volume of strikes, van Nistelrooy's tally is unrivalled at Old Trafford this season ensuring that, more often than not, he is going to be a first choice selection for Sir Alex Ferguson.
