How Zlatan Can Equal A 91-year Record

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has enjoyed a stunning start to life at Manchester United and the striker can equal a 91-year-old record if he finds the net at Hull City on Saturday.

The summer signing has scored in each of his three competitive outings for the club - against Leicester City, Bournemouth and Southampton - and tops the goals chart with four to his name.

Ibrahimovic is the ninth man to achieve the feat of netting in his opening three United matches and the first to do so since Ian Storey-Moore in the early 1970s. Storey-Moore was on the mark against Huddersfield, Crystal Palace and Coventry City in March and April of 1972, following his arrival from Nottingham Forest.

Alex Dawson's efforts all came inside a week in April 1957, with Eddie Lewis and Ted Buckle the other men to score in their first three appearances for the club in the post-War era.

However, the man who currently holds the record for scoring in four successive matches is Jimmy Hanson, a local lad bought from Stalybridge Celtic who ironically scored on his debut against this weekend's opponents Hull in November 1924. The striker followed it up with goals in 1-1 draws against Blackpool and Derby County, but the game against the 10-man Rams had repercussions for his career.

The clash was dubbed 'the Battle of Old Trafford' and the 20-year-old's equaliser had arrived from close range after skipper Frank Barson barged goalkeeper Olney over from a corner. It was decided, for all Hanson's exploits in front of goal, that he was not ready for the rough and tumble of Division Two football as he had struggled against the aggressive County defenders.

While other youngsters have famously been eased into the fray ever since, it seems, in retrospect, pretty extraordinary that he was effectively put in cold storage while United continued a promotion-winning campaign that ended with second spot being secured ahead of adversaries Derby.

Hanson's long-awaited reappearance - and fourth appearance - finally came at Villa Park the following September and he did not disappoint, notching during a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa. His run of goals came to an end in the Manchester derby five days later, but he did make it five in six games by striking in a 6-1 thumping of Burnley.

So history beckons for Ibrahimovic this weekend, if the Swedish number nine can breach the Tigers' defence at the KCOM Stadium and rewrite the record books. Good luck, Zlatan!

Scored in first three appearances:
Bob Donaldson - 1892/93
George Millar - 1894/95
Jimmy Hanson - 1924/25
Jack Ball - 1929/30
Ted Buckle - 1946/47
Eddie Lewis - 1952/53
Alex Dawson - 1956/57
Ian Storey-Moore - 1971/72
Zlatan Ibrahimovic - 2016/17

Scored in first four appearances:
Jimmy Hanson - 1924/25 & 1925/26

Credit: Manutd.com