There have been many questions posed about Manchester United’s decision not to go all-in to sign Harry Kane last summer.
And in the short-term, the England international would have been a surefire hit, and made this 2023/24 season better.
Yet, with the rest of this United team hit by injuries, and struggling to create chances for a striker, really would there have been any point to taking the short-term approach?
Manchester United looked long-term, paying a still hefty fee to sign Rasmus Hojlund, and the striker is coming on strong.
Rasmus Hojlund talked up
Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund has scored two goals and provided one assist in his last two Premier League games. He has seven goals this season.
One man who has been very impressed with him is former Southampton manager Ruben Selles, who worked with Hojlund at FC Copenhagen as assistant boss.
Selles, now at Reading, spoke this week to the Training Ground Guru podcast, and backed Hojlund, promising: “You can expect him to be rated as one of the best strikers in the world.”
He explained that Hojlund will be using this tough opening experience at Manchester United to become even sharper, and will thrive under the intense pressure.
Selles said: “When he has a miss, everyone is talking about it but it’s just part of the process and he will become a better player and he will become stronger in games, and in his mind through this process.
“He’s been brilliant in all the other competitions and brilliant for United.
“I think it is a matter of time before he connects that and connects that with the fans and, once he will make this ‘crack’, he’s going to be unbelievable.”
Hojlund is beginning to kick on, impressive in his recent Premier League games, with his confidence lifted by the relief of a goal. He did net five times in the Champions League, showing his quality.
He is still only 20-years-old and
Hojlund mentality sets him apart
Rasmus Hojlund has had to deal with plenty of scrutiny, unfairly, in part down to the position Manchester United have put him in.
He is playing as a lead striker, when at 20, he should be backing up an experienced forward, and not ‘playing too much’, as Rio Ferdinand voiced fears over earlier this week.
To be able to cope with this, shows one of the reasons United were to convinced to his him, and Selles believes Hojlund has all the tools he needs to succeed.
He added: “He’s a mentality monster. He developed into a mentality monster. He has a good family that takes care of him. His environment is really strong and you don’t have that quite often with a young, talented player, that when we had him in Copenhagen, with that kind of mentality.”
READ MORE: Join the conversation with the United in Focus Whatsapp group
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
