Erik ten Hag has suggested certain players being unavailable for Manchester United has detrimentally affected Rasmus Hojlund’s chances of scoring goals.
Hojlund scored his first Premier League goal against Aston Villa during the festive period and enjoyed a brilliant start to 2024, scoring seven goals in seven games.
However, Hojlund sustained a muscle injury when he scored a brace against Luton Town on February 18 and returned from the sidelines just under a month later.
After recovering from that injury, the striker started in the 4-3 win against Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals but struggled to make an impact and looked off the pace.
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Hojlund has made five starts since his return and has failed to score, which means his performances have been scrutinised, just like at the start of the campaign.
If United win against Coventry City, Hojlund has eight games remaining to get back on the scoresheet and his form was discussed at Ten Hag’s press conference.
When asked why Hojlund hasn’t scored since his return from injury and whether he was receiving adequate service, Ten Hag said: “Ah, that is always the issue when you… he was in a fantastic run and then broke his rhythm. Why? I think there are always many reasons why. For instance, he was in the moment when he was in a run, we had a moment where we had many players available.
“We could bring out a strong side. After he returned we have to make compromises. And yeah, of course, that decreases, the performance. And that is also an impact on everyone. So also on the striker.”
Although it took Hojlund until December to score his first league goal, he notched five times in the Champions League group stage as United finished bottom.
The 21-year-old has contributed 13 goals and two assists in all competitions and at this stage of his development, he’s performed as many expected.
United spent £72million to sign Hojlund from Atalanta because they believe he can become one of Europe’s most prolific goalscorers.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
