Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund is celebrating getting back on the scoresheet for the first time since February.
Now late April, it is important to note that a large portion of that time saw Rasmus Hojlund miss several games due to injury.
But not all. Since returning to action in late March, the Dane has found it tough going at times, clearly off his best form.
A case in point was theFA Cup semi-final, when through on goal at 3-2 up, he hesitated, and the chance was lost. Another missed opportunity against Brentford springs to mind too.
The problem is Hojlund doesn’t get a lot of chances to score, so if he does miss, you tend to remember them. He returned to the scoresheet late in the win over Sheffield United after rushing to get on the end of a Bruno Fernandes cross.
Rasmus Hojlund urged to improve his runs
Manchester United are a better team when Rasmus Hojlund is scoring goals, and the obvious hope is that he now goes on a scoring streak similar to how he did in early 2024.
While the lack of service is an issue for Hojlund, to pin it all on his teammates might be a little unfair.
Are there tweaks he can make to his game, to make it easier for his colleagues?
Former United academy prospect Phil Bardsley believes so, with the ex-Burnley defender arguing that he feels Hojlund strays from danger areas too frequently.
He explained, speaking to MUTV: “His work rate is second to none, he puts the work in and he covers the ground. He’s honest.
“Some of his runs, I would say sometimes he goes a bit far outside the outside the goalpost.
“I think if you watch the top strikers around the world and then they’re always between the sticks and you can get so many goals there but listen, he’s honest, he’s making he’s making decent runs. and I think his runs can be a little bit better. I think he’d be more prolific even if he did that.”
As a defender, Bardsley would be happier dealing with a striker who runs away from the goal area rather than hovering around it, so his comments makes sense. It’s a part of his game Hojlund can work on with the help of the Manchester United coaching staff.
Bardsley says he has some sympathy for the United forward, adding: “I feel for him, we spoke before the game about obviously the lack of preseason. And then he goes on a fantastic run of seven goals in six games and then gets another little niggle, which keeps him out for a couple of weeks off the grass.
“And then obviously he’s come back into the team again and struggled a little bit. And sometimes as strikers need that little bit of a little bit of luck. Maybe he needs one off enough your shin or your backside or the back of your head or something just just to get you off and running again.”
Hojlund got his goal, and there might be a few more to come before this current season comes to a close.
Rasmus Hojlund first season
Rasmus Hojlund has 14 goals for the season so far, a decent return, which might end up looking a lot better if he can add to it over the next five Premier League games andFA Cup final.
Hojlund would of course trade all his goals for a FA Cup final winner against rivals Manchester City.
There is a young striker who may be mixed in to support Hojlund too, with Ethan Wheatley making his first team debut against Sheffield United as a late substitute.
That’s been part of the problem this season, a lack of support, and United fans would much rather see Wheatley than Anthony Martial.
