Radamel Falcao must emulate prolific Diego Costa as Golden Boot race heats up early

Radamel Falcao is expected to give Diego Costa a run for his money in the Golden Boot stakes this term.

On the whole, it has been an exhilarating start to the Premier League this season. Big-name transfers have started to make an impact, the ardour of domestic football is once again gracing one of the best leagues in the globe, and two of world football’s most exciting and deadly strikers – Diego Costa and Radamel Falcao – are in town, all set to play a major role in how it all unfolds.

The delight is palpable, and although it is a tad more visceral for some than it is for others, the excitement for neutrals everywhere is plain to see.

Joining Manchester United from Ligue 1 giants Monaco on a season-long loan, Falcao’s name was soon splashed across the back page of every newspaper and online publication in the aftermath of his move to England. And it began to offer fans of the Red Devils a rare opportunity to smile amidst all the doom and gloom that had been hovering over Old Trafford in recent months. Could he offer them some respite and turn their season around? Will he solve all of their woes?

Injured for the World Cup, the Colombian star wasn’t afforded the opportunity to shine on the biggest stage there is – as he was expected to – but now that he has been drafted in as a candidate to kick-start the Red Devils' goal-scoring, the 28-year-old can prove his worth all he wants for one of the most respected clubs in footballing history.

Falcao can spearhead United's lacklustre attack

Fresh from a confidence-boosting 4-0 triumph against Premier League new boys Queens Park Rangers only very recently, Louis van Gaal's charges have finally started to show their mettle on the domestic front.

And while Argentine international Angel Di Maria was pivotal to those three points with some clever passing and insightful vision, it remains clear that they still desperately need someone like Falcao to provide a coherent focal point up front. When Robin van Persie was sidelined for the initial few weeks, they really missed that go-to icon in the 18-yard box. And they can’t become too dependent on Di Maria either.

The bottom line is that Falcao can be the goal-grabbing saviour they crave, as underlined by the video highlights below.

Looking at just how merciless Chelsea have been with the influential Diego Costa now leading the line, the reward of having a goal-poaching, physically competent, fiery striker with no fear in your ranks almost seems to defy complement. They are very difficult to replace and they add an invaluable string to any team’s bow.

Much like the way the controversial Luis Suarez transformed Liverpool last season, Costa has already proven to everyone just how central he is going to be to this season's title run-in – provided he can remain fit for the Blues.

And United's El Tigre will know that a similar role awaits him if he can live up to the hype.

In the 2012/13 season, Falcao netted on 28 occasions in La Liga for Atletico Madrid, scoring a couple of times against Real Madrid and Barcelona in the process – a real statement of just how dangerous he can be when he’s on top of his game. And despite injuries that have hampered his impact as well as a prolonged presence in a middle-of-the-road league such as Le Championnat, the talented striker remains as hungry as ever to get goals and push towards silverware.

As reported by ESPN, the player that once stole the hearts of River Plate fans the length and breadth of Argentina is once more endearing himself to his supporters by aiming high.

“It is an extraordinary stadium, a legendary stadium. I am very happy for this victory and the support was great. I want to continue that way. It was fantastic. I almost scored. The goalkeeper was good. I hope to score the next game.” – Falcao

Capable with either foot, competitive in aerial duels and possessing a formidable and thriving temperament that has seen his game transfer from league to league with ease, the ingredients are all there for the former River Plate sensation to become the next promising purchase to win the hearts of the Stretford End faithful.

In short, he has the necessary appetite to help a team starved of recent success regain their bite once more.

Falcao needs to hit the ground running

Again, much like Costa, it’s vital that Falcao starts with a bang. After all, it’s no secret that confidence plays a massive role in just how many purple patches a forward gets to enjoy. And although he failed to net against Harry Redknapp’s QPR on his home debut, he was only on the field of play for the final 25 minutes, something that he can surely be forgiven for.

Reflecting on his history of good starts reveals that he struck seven times in his first seven games for Monaco back in 2013/14, netting against the likes of Paris St Germain, Toulouse and Montpellier. He’s certainly no stranger to getting off on the right foot wherever he goes, and United fans will be expecting a repeat of his excellent goal-scoring form between now and Christmas as he starts to get more and more settled.

Diego Costa has already scored seven goals in the Premier League this season.

But with a flurry of big matches to come against Everton, Chelsea and reigning champions Manchester City between now and the start of November, it is vital that he starts hitting all the right notes with regularity now. There are certainly plenty of opportunities for him to do so, and they are opportunities he really should not squander.

Upcoming encounters with Leicester City and West Ham United will be pinpointed as fixtures in which the Colombian star can score more than a few. And although he’s unlikely to be 100 percent match fit for either tie, these are exactly the types of settings in which he could, and should, thrive.

Already, having joined United’s ranks at the latest possible time, Falcao finds himself far behind Costa in the goal-scoring charts – the street footballer-turned majestic professional already has seven to his name. But with a wave of support behind him, the innate skills that he maintains and the supporting cast of creative midfielders around him, he should not have too much trouble putting Costa under a bit of pressure between now and the New Year.

Put your boots on, Radamel. There’s a club that needs saving.