Manchester United legend Jaap Stam is a big fan of the ‘very talented’ Rasmus Hojlund and says the striker needs the help of his team-mates to end his Premier League goal drought.
The contrast between Rasmus Hojlund’s goal tally in Europe, compared to his return in domestic action, could hardly be more dramatic.
No player in the Champions League group-stages has more than the Dane’s five goals. A tally which contradicts his struggles at Premier League level, Stam echoing former Manchester United team-mate Paul Scholes when telling Tipsbladet that Hojlund is a man crying out for quality service from the Red Devils array of misfiring wingers.
Rasmus Hojlund yet to score a Premier League goal
“He has made a really good impression on me. I think he is a really good player,” Stam explains. “He is very talented. He has an excellent left foot, a really good physique and lots of speed. And he has shown that in his first matches for United.
“When you come to such a big club as a very young man, it is not easy (for Hojlund) to show his qualities. Because he also needs the players around him (to help out). He needs them to put him on the stage and give him opportunities to score.”
United famously went over 160 minutes without creating a single goalscoring opportunity for Hojlund before the £63 million summer signing forced Tomas Kaminski into a point-blank save against Luton Town last time out.
Manchester United ace gets Jaap Stam’s backing
“He plays in a team that lacks confidence,” Stam adds, Marcus Rashford, Antony and Alejandro Garnacho yet to rediscover the form of Erik ten Hag’s first season at the helm.
“(Hojlund) has players around him who don’t have the confidence, and maybe not even the qualities to play at this level. So it’s not going to be easy for him. But he’s just going to have to do what he can.
“He must show his qualities and work hard. Hopefully, he scores some goals and then he gets even more confidence.”
Hojlund’s remarkable return in Europe is proof that, if opportunities do come his way, United’s new number 11 will take them.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
