Goalscorers are a precious commodity at any level of the game and, having rebuilt his reputation by scoring 22 times following a £4 million move from Everton, the former England international boasted an army of top-flight suitors ready to test his new club's resolve.
But the wisdom of United's decision not to encourage offers for their most valuable asset was confirmed in emphatic fashion at Bramall Lane on Saturday.
Beattie pounced either side of a Liam Fontaine own goal to propel Kevin Blackwell's team up to fourth in the Championship table courtesy of a powerful second-half display.
"We've just seen the difference having someone like James can make," Blackwell acknowledged.
"If you get the ball to him, give him the right kind of service then he's always going to cause damage.
"When games are tight then people like him can make all the difference."
So it proved only moments before the interval when, with United having been dragged into what their manager described as a "war of attrition", Beattie finally broke Bristol City's resolve.
It was a strike which, had it been from the boot of Fernando Torres of Didier Drogba, would enjoy pride of place on the television schedules.
David Cotterill, restored the starting line-up after a spell in the wilderness, sent a short corner spiralling towards the near post where, demonstrating wonderful balance and poise, his fellow forward adjusted his shape before powering an unstoppable volley beyond the helpless
Adriano Basso.
That built the platform for United to complete a hat-trick of victories in the space of eight days and ensure their preparations for the Steel City derby later this month will begin on a positive note.
Such is United's confidence at present that Blackwell's only regret is that his players must wait nearly a fortnight before making the journey to Hillsborough.
But, having refused to take any notice of the rankings until after the visit of last term's play-off finalists, his sights are now fixed firmly on an even greater prize than beating the old enemy.
"I've always maintained that the positions mean nothing until 10 games have gone by," he said.
"That's when they start to take shape and we've reached that stage now.
"I'm happy with where we are and now we've got to make sure that we are still here come Christmas.
"We left ourselves with too much to do last time and if we'd have had a couple more points in the bag then, with the form we showed, we'd have definitely got into the first six.
"But we didn't and so it's important that we don't make the same mistake again."
Beattie, whose tally now stands at 25 goals in just 44 starts for United, will quite rightly hog the headlines but, encouragingly for Blackwell, his was not the only match-winning performance.
Young Kyle Naughton delivered another impeccable shift at full-back, Gary Speed was authorative in midfield and Gary Naysmith did an excellent job of protecting United's left flank.
But the pick of the bunch was Ugo Ehiogu who, selected when Chris Morgan failed a late fitness test on his damaged calf, was imperious at the heart of United's rearguard.
He was strong in the tackle, commanding in the air and precise with his distribution, and the veteran's contribution was the perfect response to critics who labelled him a busted flush when Blackwell's predecessor, Bryan Robson, signed him from Glasgow Rangers.
"We didn't dare play Chris because, if a calf goes then it can be six or so weeks," Blackwell said. "So he stepped down and took one for the team.
"But Ugo was immense and showed the reason why he's here."
With City clearly intent on frustrating their opponents, United and their supporters found it heavy going until Beattie intervened.
Beattie had a good attempt parried away by Basso before the visitors paid a heavy price for Marvin Elliott's miscue from close range when Fontaine, under pressure from Matthew Kilgallon, turned into his own net.
Beattie, converting Cotterill's corner, made it three soon after.
United, handing a debut to Brian Howard, dominated the closing stages.
Having finally completed his protracted and controversial transfer from Barnsley less than 48 hours earlier, the £500,000 midfielder has been declared off limits to the media.
But Howard let his feet do the talking during a 15-minute cameo by spraying a series of incisive passes across the pitch.
"Brian gives us something different, something we didn't have until he arrived," Blackwell, clearly bemused by the conditions applied to Howard's move, said.
"I'm delighted to have him here and I'd have waited for as long as it might have taken to get him."
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