24 September 2023 , 09:30
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Gary Lineker is predicting big things for new Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund despite the Dane having only scored once for the club so far this season.
United's pursuit of the 20-year-old became a prolonged summer saga, with Atalanta initially holding out for an £88 million fee and reputing the notion of a swap deal involving other United players. Eventually, the clubs settled on an initial price of £72 million, plus add ons.
But after being unveiled to the fans ahead of a pre-season clash with Lyon at Old Trafford, his arrival proved anti-climatic. Plagued by a niggling injury picked up whilst still in Italy, Hojlund didn't feature in United's first three Premier League games, before making his bow as a substitute in the defeat at Arsenal.
Following the international break, the Dane started the home defeat against Brighton, and then after being named in the XI got off the mark in the 4-3 defeat at Bayern Munich in midweek. There were no goals for the forward as the Red Devils beat Burnley 1-0 on Saturday night, but the clash did represent his first 90 minutes for the club.
But whilst for the majority, the jury is still very much out following his big money move, Lineker has seen enough to make a telling prediction. Speaking on Match of the Day following United's game at Turf Moor, the presenter admitted to having kept a close eye on the forward so far.
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"I have watched him in his first two or three games and he has only scored one goal, against Bayern, but he looks to me like he will score goals," he said. "I like his movement."
And it seems that Lineker, whose knowledge of strikers can be relied upon given his own goalscoring prowess as a player, isn't alone in being impressed. Pundit Danny Murphy also lauded Hojlund's willingness to find space.
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Rasmus Hojlund celebrates his goal against Bayern Munich (Getty Images)"The goal in midweek will do him the world of good and while he didn't score today, he got into positions that I always think strikers should be in," he added. "On another day, he would score because he keeps making really good runs. There are a lot of positives for him."
Amid a mounting injury list, how Erik ten Hag chooses to manage the workload of his new striker could well prove critical. Marcus Rashford has seemingly escaped unharmed after a car accident on Saturday night, but the ongoing absence of Jadon Sancho and Antony leaves him short of forward power.
United face a double-header with Crystal Palace next week, hosting them in the League Cup on Tuesday and then in the Premier League the following Saturday. Those clashes are followed by a must win Champions League clash at home to Galatasaray.