Wout Weghorst now needs to perform in super-sub role he was signed for

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Manchester United forward Wout Weghorst now needs to re-adapt to his new role as a back-up striker.

Wout Weghorst is into the final few weeks of his loan spell at Manchester United. He will want to go out with a bang, rather than a whimper.

The Dutchman’s loan stint has been eventful. Signed to provide cover for Anthony Martial, Weghorst was thrust into a regular starter role for a full two months.

He played a role in Manchester United’s Carabao Cup success, with a goal in the semi-final and an assist in the final.

But it would be wrong to characterise his time as the club as a ‘hit’ rather than a ‘miss’. Weghorst has scored only two goals in 22 games in all competitions, and none in the Premier League.

The chances of the Dutchman landing a permanent deal currently look slim. But its easy to have some sympathy for him, he has been playing non-stop without a break, until Anthony Martial’s recent return.

Now with Martial back, Weghorst has to re-adapt and perform in the role he was originally intended for.

Weghorst must become Manchester United’s super-sub

Wout Weghorst has dropped out of the Manchester United starting line-up and now he needs to start making an impact from this role.

Erik ten Hag needs his striker to be a super-sub. He has come off the bench in recent matches against Everton, Sevilla and Nottingham Forest and is yet to contribute.

There is no path for Weghorst as a future Manchester United starter. He had this chance over the past couple of months and didn’t take it. His lack of goals prove United need a better option.

Weghorst could still earn a permanent move to United, if he is able to start performing from the bench and impacting games as a ‘plan B’.

This was the role Erik ten Hag signed him for. If for instance, Weghorst comes off the bench to score vital goals against Sevilla and Brighton this week, it can change everything, from perceptions of his loan spell, to the direction of his future.

Last week at Sevilla at Old Trafford, he didn’t influence the game positively. He was part of a group of substitutes which lost momentum and were wasteful in front of goal and United paid for it.

Weghorst needs to start helping to turn games. Can he have a Marouane Fellaini impact and make a nuisance of himself, or ideally in an Ole Gunnar Solskjaer super-sub scoring role. There is still time for the Dutchman to make himself valuable.