Erik ten Hag was asked about the fitness of Rasmus Hojlund, insisting he will not rush the Dane into action.
Manchester United Football Club begin their Premier League campaign at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers this evening.
The Red Devils will be chomping at the bit to get their season going, there’s no doubt about that. However, they’ll do so with an injury-ravaged squad. Not so much the starting XI, though the bench has been weakened by multiple problems suffered in pre-season.
One man who has been ruled out of this clash is Rasmus Hojlund. Now, Ten Hag has provided a fitness update on the young Dane during his most recent press conference.
The gaffer reiterated the fact that he will not be rushed. The ex-Atalanta striker is dealing with some back issues right now and the club will give him all the time he needs to feel comfortable, before throwing him in the side.
Check out what the gaffer had to say in full here:
“No, we are not in a rush,“ said Erik on Friday, when quizzed on the fitness of Hojlund, to ManUtd.com.
“We know we are also without him, we have a strong team and the position is covered. We don’t rush.
“It is about him being in the right level and then we have to integrate him in training and then we will bring him into the games.
“We take our time. It is not about winning in this moment, it is about winning in the long-term.”
As a result, I’d expect it’ll be at least a month before we see Hojlund starting games for United. The Dane will be eased into things off the substitutes bench no doubt, as that’s the way Ten Hag prefers to integrate his players into the fold.
Hojlund no doubt has all the tools to become a success at the highest level, though it’s about managing him correctly and ensuring he’s in the best possible environment to succeed.
In the short term, the likes of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial will have to lead the line and carry the baton in terms of goalscoring. Let’s hope we make a positive start on that front against Wolves this evening.
Do you think Rasmus Hojlund will make an impact for Man United this season? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below.
