Though he’s headed in the right direction, Rasmus Hojlund is still the “rough diamond” Manchester United acknowledged they signed.
Adopting a youngster, even one with enormous promise, was riskier than keeping Harry Kane, who was the top target for United and in dire need of a new striker come summertime. United are experiencing both favorable and unfavorable effects from it.
Week in and week out, Erik ten Hag’s team is led by the already excellent Hojlund, who keeps improving the lineup. Even though he is only 20 years old and has plenty of time to develop, he is already showcasing incredible feats of speed, strength, and ability.
However, he is not yet scoring the goals that United need. Hojlund has yet to score in the Premier League, with just three goals in ten appearances thus far. Although his strikes in Europe have been excellent and he has been unfortunate to have some of them disallowed, the return has not yet been good enough.
United scored the fewest goals of any team that finished in the top 10 last season, with only Aston Villa and Fulham scoring fewer than them. Now, things have dried up even more as Marcus Rashford is struggling to regain his outstanding form.
They are the only team in the top 10 with fewer goals scored than them; the only teams with more goals scored are Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest, Fulham, Everton, Luton, Burnley, and Bournemouth. That’s not where United aspires to be.
Hojlund is obviously surrounded with a lot of patience, which is fortunate because he has a lot of potential. However, United will soon need more from him, or else the pressure will start to mount.
Fortunately, it appears that Hojlund is a sensible guy. He is aware that he must perform to a high degree in every game, but he is also at ease with the notion that he still has a lot of growing to do.
“I accept my value. I play for Manchester United, so I know I have to give it my all every day,” he remarked. Ultimately, I am only twenty years old, so I’m not quite the finished product. I am slowly but surely improving, but I still have a long way to go.
It has passed quickly, but I am here because I have always believed in myself and I want to get better every day. I’m hoping I can continue my upward trend.
Hojlund is moving higher. Yes, that is true. He’s a young guy holding his own at one of the biggest clubs in the world, despite a lot of pressure. However, a dominant performance and his first Premier League goal in the Manchester derby on Sunday would send his run into the stratosphere, if not higher.
Hojlund would have plenty of freedom as he continues to adapt into his new role at Old Trafford if he put on a strong showing or perhaps made a significant contribution in such a big game. This is his first Manchester Derby, and it’s the ideal opportunity to show off his true abilities and make sure he keeps improving.
It’s obvious he’s eager about the opportunity. “I am excited about it because it will be a significant experience,” he continued. “Playing a rival is always special, and it would be nice to get closer to the top if we win the game.”