Manchester United star Rasmus Hojlund has missed the start of the season through injury (Picture: Getty)
Peter Schmeichel has lifted the lid on a conversation he had with Ruud van Nistelrooy about Rasmus Hojlund, revealing just how highly Manchester United’s new assistant manager rates the striker.
Hojlund, 21, completed a switch from Atalanta to Old Trafford last summer and there were weighty expectations on the youngster’s shoulders given his eye-watering £64million transfer fee.
But Hojlund endured a difficult start to life in the north west and it took the forward until Boxing Day to score his first goal in the Premier League – a dramatic late winner at home to Aston Villa.
The Denmark international would finish the campaign with 16 goals in all competitions for the Red Devils, a tally he will no doubt be looking to better this term.
But United have been without Hojlund for their first three games of the top-flight season after the attacker suffered a hamstring injury during the side’s pre-season friendly with Arsenal in July.
Hojlund’s fitness will be assessed ahead of United’s return to Premier League action away to Southampton and there are hopes he could be involved at St Mary’s, most likely as a substitute.
Schmeichel has high hopes for Hojlund and it appears his feelings are shared by fellow United legend Van Nistelrooy, who returned to the club to join Erik ten Hag’s coaching staff this summer.
Van Nistelrooy told Schmeichel that Hojlund has ‘so much potential’ (Picture: Getty)
‘He is a fantastic talent. The possibilities that lie within him are at the highest level and he can pull himself into that conversation,’ the former United and Denmark goalkeeper told Tipsbladet.
‘Ruud van Nistelrooy is back at the club and I spoke to him briefly. He says there is so much potential in him. If he can help him…
‘It’s not just Rasmus! The team is not playing with him in the right way, so there are some things that need to be corrected.’
There are hopes the Denmark striker could feature for United against Southampton (Picture: Getty)
Schmeichel has been particularly impressed by Hojlund’s maturity and believes his fellow countryman can become a lethal goalscorer should he live up to his true potential.
‘He is a very impressive young person. He seems far older than his 21 years,’ Schmeichel added.
‘He has a great perspective. Crazy sensible, wise and cheeky – all the things you want in a young striker. He has shown that if he is being pressured, he can do it himself.
‘If he can get the team to back him up, I see no reason why he won’t score lots of goals.’
Speaking after United’s defeat to Liverpool, Ten Hag said Hojlund would have to ‘build some fitness’ before being considered again for selection.
‘After the international break but when after the break?’ the United head coach told reporters.
‘We will see how it develops during the break to get him match fit.
‘It will take a while before he is up. He has to build some fitness.’
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