Robin van Persie scored twice as he continued his recovery from an ankle injury in Manchester United ’ s 4-1 win over Fulham in the Under-21 Premier League . The Holland striker ’ s sharp performance at Craven Cottage suggests he will be in contention to start in Louis van Gaal ’ s side for the visit of West Bromwich Albion on Saturday . Van Persie missed seven matches after injuring his ankle in mid-February and has only just returned to the first-team picture , replacing Wayne Rooney for the final two minutes of United ’ s 3-0 loss at Everton on Sunday . Robin van Persie lifts the ball over Magnus Norman to score his second , and Man United 's fourth goal . Van Persie made an appearance for Manchester United Under 21s away at Fulham on Tuesday night . The Holland international opened the scoring as United took a commanding first-half lead at Craven Cottage . Joe Rothwell ( right ) followed up Van Persie 's opener with two goals of his own to extend United 's advantage . Fulham : Norman ; Donnelly , Buatu ( c ) , Baba ; Sheckleford , Mesca , Edun ( de la Torre 67 ) , Smile , Evans ; Plumain , Redford ( Humphreys 60 ) Substitutes not used : Elworthy , Rodak . Scorer : Humphreys 90 . Booked : Sheckleford . Manchester United : Lindegaard ; Love , Blackett , Thorpe ( c ) , Kellett ; Rothwell ( Willock 81 ) . Goss ( Fletcher 88 ) , Grimshaw ; Pereira , Van Persie ( Weir 81 ) , Januzaj . Substitutes not used : O ’ Hara , El Fitouri . Scorers : Van Persie 13 , 80 ; Rothwell 20 , 43 . Booked : Blackett . Referee : Ashvin Degnarain . The primary aim of this appearance was to get much-needed minutes under his belt but his two goals had the added effect of sending United four points clear at the top of the Under-21 Premier League table . Van Persie was undoubtedly the star attraction , but the team fielded by Warren Joyce also included Adnan Januzaj , Tyler Blackett , Anders Lindegaard and Andreas Pereira . And it didn ’ t take long for the visitors to assert their authority against a Fulham side threatened by relegation from the top tier at this level . On 13 minutes , Van Persie controlled a Pereira through ball just inside the 18-yard box and slotted past Fulham goalkeeper Magnus Norman to open the scoring . It was two shortly afterwards when Januzaj found Joe Rothwell in behind the Fulham defence with a lovely through ball and United ’ s No 7 was left with an easy finish . The United striker gives a thumbs up to the supporters as he leaves the Craven Cottage pitch . Van Persie emerges from the Craven Cottage tunnel to begin the second half in west London . Van Persie tangles with Fulham 's Jonathan Buatu Mananga in the Under 21 Premier League match . Van Persie could have claimed his second five minutes later when he stretched to reach Januzaj ’ s cross and saw his effort come back off the post . The contest was over two minutes before the break when Januzaj advanced down the right and cut the ball back for Rothwell to place the ball into the bottom corner . The Dutchman saw an effort deflect off Fulham captain Jonathan Buatu and against the crossbar in the second-half but he wouldn ’ t be denied another goal . 10 minutes from time , he was found behind Fulham ’ s back line again and added his second of the night with a dinked finish over Norman . It proved to be Van Persie ’ s last act as he was replaced by James Weir before the restart . Fulham did claim a consolation in stoppage time when Stephen Humphreys headed home Luca de la Torre ’ s cross . The United striker has been sidelined with an ankle injury since February , and is just returning to action . Van Persie ( right ) was joined by Adnan Januzaj ( left ) and Anders Lindegaard against Fulham . Manchester United 's U21 side went into the match looking to extend their advantage at the top of the league .
Robin van Persie has been suffering with an ankle injury since February . He came on as a substitute for the senior team against Everton on Sunday . Van Persie opened the scoring for United 's Under 21s at crystal Cottage . van Rothwell scored United 's second and third before half - time . Van Persie grabbed his second goal to secure the victory for United .