Now is not the time to judge Ras as United limp to finish line
THE goals are not flowing for United striker Rasmus Hojlund right now. It’s been a tough spell for the player.
Monday night’s 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace means he has now scored just once in his past nine appearances in all competitions. His only goal within this underwhelming run came in the 4-2 win over Sheffield United at Old Trafford a fortnight ago.
That marked his eighth Premier League goal of the season and his 14th in all competitions.
Five of those 14 goals were plundered in the Champions League prior to Christmas, at which point he was still in the hunt for his maiden league goal in United colours.
But after ending that drought against Aston Villa on Boxing Day, Hojlund enjoyed a blistering run of form in front of goal, scoring in six consecutive Premier League games, featuring seven goals.
However, he has struggled to rediscover that level of consistency since sustaining a muscle injury towards the end of February.
With just four games of United’s season left, the 21-year-old, who was signed from Atalanta last summer, will be hoping to end the season as strongly as possible.
His first season at the club has coincided with United experiencing one of their worst in their recent history, meaning it is hard to be overly critical of a young player adapting to life in a new country, and at a club where the expectation levels are much higher than at most others.
Hojlund, despite not being prolific or consistent, has offered nuggets of what he is capable of. He has demonstrated he can be the prolific poacher every club
dreams of having, while he has also demonstrated his running power to get in behind opposition defences and score.
Though their respective characteristics and play styles are much different, Hojlund should take encouragement from the development of Alexander Isak at Newcastle United.
The Swede, although a thigh injury was a contributor, was not as prolific as he would have liked to have been in his debut season in England last term, ending the campaign with 11 goals in 27 matches in all competitions.
It was still a healthy and respectable return for a relatively young player playing in England for the first time. However, he has improved at a rapid rate this season, plundering 24 goals, 20 of which have come in the Premier League.
This term, Isak has ranked as one of the very best strikers in the Premier League, resulting in him justifiably being included on the shortlists for the Premier League Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season awards.
Hojlund, who is three years Isak’s junior, should take encouragement from the fact the former Real Sociedad man has blossomed in his second season in England.
Isak has established himself as one of the best strikers in Europe this term and United aspire for Hojlund to end up in the same category with more time. “With Hojlund, I think we had the biggest potential in the striker position last summer and we are very happy with him,” United manager Erik ten Hag said recently.
“But he also needs time to adapt and we are very pleased he showed his assets in scoring goals.”
Currently, Isak’s stock is far higher than Hojlund, and there is very little argument to be had on that. However, the former has set a blueprint that Hojlund can take encouragement from in his hopes of becoming a richer source of goals next season.
Ten Hag is right that Hojlund is still adjusting and needs time.
Next season will be the right time to make a judgement.