Manchester United drew a second blank of the season against Crystal Palace, with the attack crying out for a clinical finisher.
Now wearing the No.9 shirt for Manchester United, this will be a problem Rasmus Hojlund will think he can solve once he is fit and firing again – although Paul Scholes is not so sure.
Joshua Zirkzee has been immense for United, although his strengths lie outside of the penalty area with his link-up play being key against Crystal Palace.
However, despite really encouraging performances all across the pitch, Manchester United are still struggling to get the ball in the net – barring last week’s 7-0 thrashing of Barnsley.
For Hojlund, one Ineos decision from the summer just passed could be key in him solving the problem at the club right now.
How Rasmus Hojlund feels about working with Ruud van Nistelrooy
On Saturday, Hojlund made his comeback appearance after being injured in July’s fixture against Arsenal and got just 14 minutes as he built up his fitness. During the friendly against the Gunners, Hojlund scored a brilliant solo goal but after 16 minutes he was forced to withdraw with an injury.
However as he now will likely play a substantial role on Wednesday against FC Twente, it has been revealed how Hojlund feels about working with the United coach appointed in the summer by Ineos, Ruud van Nistelrooy.
According to Give Me Sport, Hojlund has been telling his friends that the arrival of the United legend is a ‘huge moment’ in the development of his career.
The Dane has pinpointed the Dutchman’s arrival as coach as huge – with the chance to work with a player who scored 150 goals in 219 appearances for the Red Devils being an amazing opportunity.
Hojlund scored 16 goals last season in 43 games during his debut campaign, a figure he will be hoping can improve under the tutelage of Van Nistelrooy.
How will Manchester United attack look when fully fit?
In Hojlund’s absence, the impact of Zirkzee has become clear as he effectively ties the entire attack together with his passing and dropping deep.
It allows the wingers to thrive and this season Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo have been the biggest providers in the team.
However, upon Hojlund’s return to full fitness, chances are it will be the £64m man who is seen as the first choice considering the case spent on him just over a year ago.
Zirkzee and Hojlund offer completely different things though, so it could be that Ten Hag uses them rotationally depending on the opponent – Zirkzee could be better in games where United won’t have so much of the ball.
On either side of the No.9 we’d imagine will be Amad and then either Garnacho or Rashford.
Most importantly for Ten Hag however is that he now has options and depth in forward positions which gives him positive headaches.
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