The sight of Rasmus Hojlund trudging back towards the tunnel with less than 20 minutes played at the SoFi Stadium last weekend was not something anyone wanted to see.
Just moments after putting Manchester United ahead in their 2-1 defeat to Arsenal, the striker sank to the turf and required assistance from the medical staff. It has since been confirmed he had suffered a hamstring injury and now faces up to six weeks on the sidelines.
Although he did not travel to the United States for the start of the club’s pre-season tour last month, United have a replacement in Joshua Zirkzee. He joined the club from Bologna on July 14 to beef up the club’s attacking options.
The addition of a striker was a leading objective for United this summer and they secured Zirkzee’s signature just four days after the Netherlands had exited the European Championship. With Hojlund now in danger of spending up to six weeks on the sidelines, Zirkzee is the natural replacement for the Dane.
He could make his debut in the Community Shield against Manchester City at Wembley next Saturday and then make his Old Trafford bow against Fulham in the Premier League opener six days later as a starter.
In the absence of both Hojlund and Zirkzee against Real Betis in San Diego on Wednesday night, United manager Erik ten Hag deployed Jadon Sancho as a ‘false-nine’. He was flanked by Marcus Rashford and Amad and produced a professional performance.
