Struggling Rasmus Hojlund defended as Man Utd accused of 'lumping ball up to him'

Struggling Rasmus Hojlund has been defended from criticism after once again drawing a blank for Manchester United.

Hojlund has netted just twice in the Premier League all season and has now gone 16 games without a goal in all competitions. He endured another difficult day in United's draw with Everton on Saturday lunchtime.

The Dane had started but failed to have a shot, had just three touches inside the Toffees' box and lost all eight of his duels. He was hooked after 70 minutes, with United at that point 2-0 down.

He was then forced to watch on as Bruno Fernandes inspired a remarkable comeback to salvage a draw. But former title winner Joe Hart has sympathy for the 22-year-old, insisting that United are not playing to his strengths.

"He's on his own, all the time. They're asking a recently-turned 22 guy who's out of form, it looks like they're just lumping the ball up to him and saying 'can you score us a goal'. As you say, confidence is low, he's not offering a lot," Hart told Match of the Day 2.

"Isak and Salah are great examples as the lead men in their teams. Do they want them lumping it over the top? No. But is it effective at certain points in the game? Of course it is. And it's the timing that's key.

"Great example there of Hojlund wanting to go, not knowing when to go, Fernandes getting his head down. And it just looks so confused. And that gives the opposition so much confidence."

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Hojlund has struggled to live up to his £72million price tag ever since arriving at Old Trafford in the summer of 2023. United brought in Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna in the summer as an alternative option up-front.

But neither player has impressed, with Hojlund showing his frustrations in the recent FA Cup win over Leicester. Boss Ruben Amorim admitted he understood Hojlund's anger and insisted United needed to provide him more support

“I think it's a good thing. I will not say one word bad about this type of behaviour. He needs to understand that sometimes he has to do a job without touching the ball," Amorim said.

"He cannot get so frustrated because in the next play, maybe he will have a situation near the goal. So he has to be calm. But this is a character, and if you know so many players from that kind of character that he has from that country, they always want more.

"They want to score, they feel the critics. So, it's a good thing, but he will improve. And a striker needs a very good team to deliver very good balls for him, and we are not helping our strikers at moment.”

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