Manchester United receives double injury boost that could change season ahead of Southampton match
“We have to see how it develops and how we can progress during the break, to get match fit,” said Erik ten Hag about Rasmus Hojlund before Manchester United’s last game.
“He returned on the pitch but it will take a while before he is up. Everyone has seen, it [the injury] happens in the first game [pre-season tour], so he needs also to build some fitness.”
Around 30 minutes after Ten Hag’s press conference, Hojlund drove out of Carrington, wearing shaded sunglasses in his Range Rover, and stopped for autographs and photos. “I pulled my hamstring but I’m okay now,” said Hojlund when a small child who was wearing a United replica with his name and number asked why he hadn’t played this season.
Hojlund has returned to training on the grass at Carrington, which usually indicates a return to full training is around two weeks away and that is excellent news for United, who have sorely missed his presence in attack in the opening few games of the new Premier League season.
Bruno Fernandes has been used as a false nine and Joshua Zirkzee started down the middle against Liverpool but Hojlund is a natural centre-forward and is more effective in that role. What he brings to the team, being able to stretch a defence with his pace and getting in behind the opposition, is unique and the injury he sustained in pre-season was unfortunate.
Hojlund tweaked his hamstring after opening the scoring against Arsenal in Los Angeles and his goal was the type nobody else in the United squad could produce – he used his body brilliantly, shielded the ball with his strength and used his acceleration to evade his marker.
The 21-year-old is built in the mould of a traditional striker and if his finishing has improved for this season, he has the ability to significantly better his haul of 16 goals last term. Hojlund’s return will be a huge boost and he is expected to be available against Southampton when football resumes after the international break. United are guaranteed to create chances against the relegation candidates and Hojlund could mark his return with a bang.
Whether Luke Shaw returns to the squad alongside Hojlund at St Mary’s remains to be seen. The defender hasn’t played for United this season, despite playing for England at Euro 2024, and Ten Hag didn’t give an update on his situation at his latest press conference.
United said on August 13 that Shaw would miss the opening games of the Premier League season due to a calf injury sustained at the start of pre-season training.
The clash against Southampton comes on September 14 and four weeks should be enough time to recover from a calf strain, providing it’s not serious. That teases the possibility of Shaw and Hojlund making the XI on the south coast.
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