Rasmus Hojlund: Rasmus Hojlund has been ruled out for a couple of weeks with a minor back injury. Manchester United have informed that the injury is not threatening, but he will need rehabilitation. They haven’t given any clear date for the forward’s debut, but it could be during their match against Arsenal on September 3. The player is training individually during this time of recovery. In the meantime, the Red Devils are hoping that the £72 million worth-forward will come back sooner than expected.
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Rasmus Hojlund sustained a back injury during his last few weeks with Atalanta. Manchester United revealed following their medical tests figured out that in his back, he has a stress response hotspot. It could be the beginning of stress fractures in young players. Man United also assured that it is not long-term and a few weeks of rehabilitation will see the player back on the field. However, it will probably take some time for Hojlund to play twice a week which he will be required to do.
Coach Erik Ten Hag commented on the issue saying, “It is difficult to say how that process will go, but I think he is making good progress at this moment, then we have to see day by day. Then we have to follow up.” Back injury recoveries can be tricky to predict. Hence, the club has not given out a date as to when Hojlund would be available. However, he could be able to play in Man United’s fourth Premier League match against Arsenal on September 3.
It was confirmed that the player will miss Man United’s opening Premier League match against Wolves on August 15. However, it now seems that he will be missing their second match on the road to Tottenham Hotspur and their third match at home to Nottingham Forest. Hojlund was seen on an individual training programme to recover at Carrington on Tuesday. Man United’s schedule became hectic near the end of last season and main man Marcus Rashford picked up injuries. It became clearer that they need another forward alongside Rashford in the final third.
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Hojlund was signed with the hope that they will be able to do better in all competitions this season. The forward was unveiled in Man United’s friendly against Lens. At the game coach Ten Hag said about Hojlund, “He is a real frontman. Very direct to the goal, very good presser, a physical presence. I think in the balance of this squad, we needed that, alongside [Marcus] Rashford, another player who is direct and can score a goal. That is all in his mind: he wants to score goals.”
He added, “I think he has huge potential. And now it’s up to him first, to explore that and we will support him, all the coaches, the team, the team was waiting for a type like him. They will integrate him in the dressing room and in the pitch, they will help him. Finally, the player has to prove it. That is the character we need; we need hungry players and he is a player who is so determined to score goals, winning games and winning trophies.”
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