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With David Beckham now back on European shores, Manchester United fans could be forgiven for dredging up some fond memories of the midfielder’s glory years at Old Trafford, including the incredible Treble-winning year of 1999. But Beckham is not the only reminder of those famous days and that dramatic night in Barcelona that completed the Premier League–FA Cup–Champions League hat-trick. As Sir Alex Ferguson surveys the individual and collective quality of his four main strikers, he must feel a sense of deja vu wash over him, recalling a time when he had Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Teddy Sheringham at his disposal.

With Wayne Rooney scoring twice to sink Southampton in midweek and Javier Hernandez finding the net to dump Fulham out of the FA Cup, hot on the heels of some fine performances from the Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck partnership, there are eerie echoes of the 1998/99 Treble-winning season. That year, the illustrious quartet of strikers made Manchester United the kings of England and Europe and, while the bar is rightly set lower for the current squad, Ferguson, for the first time in over a decade, has a front four to match the Treble winners.

Fortunately, the Scot is no stranger to juggling the playing time and egos of big name players. Rooney has returned to centre stage over the past two games after a spell on the sidelines while Van Persie has enjoyed a deserved rest after carrying the attack for much of the campaign. Minutes are being shared around and thus far all four have bought into the greater goal. While rumours of Welbeck being loaned out to Reading briefly surfaced in January, they were quickly dismissed.

The Hernandez-Solskjaer comparisons are well documented, but there are few other similarities between the two quartets. Van Persie’s ability to beat his man and create room for a shot bears some comparisons to Yorke’s quick feet, however there is certainly no experienced head to rival Sheringham. For this current Manchester United team, those older heads can be found in midfield instead in the shape of Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs.

Ferguson has spoken openly about the Treble-winning quartet of strikers being the gold standard for all front men that have led the attack since. And this current group unquestionably gives the Manchester United boss more options than at any other time. Yet he continues to demand more of them.

"If Chicharito, Wayne and Robin give us over 20 goals each we’re in business", he explained after the win over Southampton. And then there is Welbeck’s contribution to add to the mix too.

But are they truly a match for the Treble-winning front line? "I think so, yes", Ferguson added. "The four in ‘99 were fantastic players, and you couldn’t possibly criticise them, but we have four today that are equally as good."

The numbers back him up. The current quartet are neck-and-neck with the class of 1999, who would finish that famous campaign with a combined total of 76 goals. In fact, Van Persie is already closing in on the tally of 29 posted by Yorke, Manchester United’s top scorer that year.

More so than in 1999, the 2012 firepower in the final third has papered over the cracks at the other end of the pitch – and will likely need to continue to do so. Unlike the Treble winners, there has been a lack of commanding presences in the Peter Schmeichel, Jaap Stam or Roy Keane moulds. David de Gea’s fragility in goal, coupled with an aging back line, makes Manchester United vulnerable to the top sides in Europe who attack with pace, a fact that could be highlighted by Real Madrid in the weeks ahead when the Champions League Round of 16 ties begin.

However, Manchester United’s depth and talent in attack means the club always have a chance. And Hernandez, who has already posted a double-figure goal tally despite limited minutes, has set lofty targets for the team.

"I want to win all three", the Mexican explained. "I want to win the Treble. That’s on our minds. We need to think game by game, get the points in the league and then get through in the Champions League and the FA Cup."

Manchester United have big challenges ahead and only the bravest gamblers would wager on a repeat of the Treble. But the excitement about the Rooney-Van Persie-Hernandez-Welbeck quartet is understandable. If the defence can raise their game, the strikers could carry Ferguson’s men further than many anticipate.

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