While Rasmus Hojlund is at one end of the age spectrum, many of his Manchester United team mates sit somewhere at the other.
And that, in itself, is perhaps an issue Ruben Amorim, Dan Ashworth, Jason Wilcox and co will be under pressure to fix in the coming years.
How many Manchester United players can really be considered footballers at the peak of their powers? Bruno Fernandes, Andre Onana, Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez, certainly.
But most of the others in Amorim’s roster are either still developing – see Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo, Amad Diallo and the aforementioned Rasmus Hojlund – or heading down the other side of the hill.
And while Christian Eriksen is not ready to swap his studs for slippers just yet, the 32-year-old playmaker is one of many ageing stars unlikely to form part of Ruben Amorim’s long-term plans at Old Trafford.
Still, the veteran Dane has been among Man United’s most impressive performers this term. Paul Scholes argues that Christian Eriksen’s presence improves the Red Devils when he is pulling the strings on the pitch, providing the sort of control and composure they otherwise lack.
And Hojlund, a teammate of Eriksen’s both at Man United and for Denmark, is keen to put the lessons he has learned from the former Tottenham Hotspur, Inter Milan, Ajax and Brentford star to very good use.
Rasmus Hojlund wants to take inspiration from Manchester United’s Christian Erisken
“I think, on the pitch, we have seen for a long time now that he keeps a very consistent high level,” Hojlund tells Man United’s official website ahead of Thursday’s Europa League clash with Bodo/Glimt.
“I haven’t seen many bad games from Christian. He always seems to be very consistent, have a good level, and I think that is a quality in itself. That is what has kept him at the top level for so long, and that’s what I try to learn from him.
“[Eriksen is always] very good and focused. Off the pitch, he takes very good care of his family and his companions.”
Eriksen did start on Amorim’s Man United debut during Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town.
That was largely due to the fact that Amorim felt Manuel Ugarte was not ready following a late return from international duty, however, while Eriksen’s lack of mobility is likely to be the biggest factor leading to his seemingly inevitable departure in 2025.
Eriksen is not ruling out leaving Man United in January, meanwhile.
Eriksen praises Denmark star Hojlund’s eye for goal
As for Hojlund, the task facing the £64 million number nine is to prove he is best suited to leading the line in Amorim’s system.
Marcus Rashford opened the scoring at Portman Road with Hojlund restricted to a brief cameo role. Gary Neville has doubts over Rashford’s suitability in the centre-forward spot, however. Thus, potentially opening the door for Hojlund to step into Viktor Gyokeres’ shoes.
“What’s the best thing [Hojlund offers] on the pitch? For Rasmus, obviously you get the eagerness to get into the box and score the goals,” Eriksen says, returning the compliment to his young protege. “It is nice to see how much he wants to get a goal, to get into good situations.
“He is doing really well with that. And, obviously, the next [challenge] is getting the goal and stuff. But the eagerness to get into the goal is very impressive.
“Outside [the pitch], he is a very nice guy! He trains hard and he treats people well. He is a good guy to be around.”
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