MX23RW : Thursday, January 30 10:35:30| >> :120:4732:4732:

Erik ten Hag calms Rasmus Hojlund injury fears

Erik ten Hag calms Rasmus Hojlund injury fears
© Reuters
Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag insists that Rasmus Hojlund has only suffered "a small injury".

Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has insisted that Rasmus Hojlund has only suffered "a small injury" and will be missing for a maximum of three weeks, but he could be back on the field sooner.

The 21-year-old has scored seven times in his last six Premier League appearances during an excellent run of form, including a brace in last weekend's 2-1 success at Luton Town.

Man United released a statement on Friday afternoon revealing that Hojlund had picked up a muscular problem, though, with the striker potentially absent for the next three weeks.

Ten Hag has confirmed that the issue was picked up in training, but it is only "a small injury", and the Dutchman hinted that even one week of recovery time could be enough.

"It is a small injury, two to three weeks. That is what happens and the risk [when you are] playing at high intensity, training. As I say it is not a big injury, but he has to wait for one, two, three weeks," the Dutchman told reporters during his press conference on Friday.

Manchester United's Rasmus Hojlund in action with Luton Town's Gabriel Osho on February 18, 2024© Reuters

Luke Shaw is also facing a long period out with a thigh problem, while Lisandro Martinez, Anthony Martial, Tyrell Malacia, Mason Mount and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are currently on the sidelines.

Ten Hag has admitted his concern over the team's injury problems which have been present throughout the campaign, but he is confident that squad players will be able to step forward.

"Yeah, of course, that is an issue, but that is also the same at other clubs. We have to deal with this. I now have the feeling we can [better deal with it] than we did back in autumn. But still it is an issue when the depth of the squad have to prove it," the manager added.

"Other players will get the opportunity to show their qualities. We are very curious and we have the confidence they can, as this is the reason we constructed this squad heading into the January window.

"We saw that players are developing, progressing, who didn't have the chance lately or in the first half of the season, or they were injured. Now they will get opportunities and now they will get the chance to fit in and to contribute."

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reacts on December 26, 2023© Reuters

Ten Hag also opened up on the importance of Man United qualifying for next season's Champions League, with the team currently sixth in the table, five points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa and three from Tottenham Hotspur in fifth.

"We have now also the right age group across the squad, so we can make that even stronger, they will grow. We will do everything in our power because we have such strong competition, but also we know we have the reason behind it," he said.

"We know in this moment we are not in the position [we want]. We still have to catch up and we are still in the moment where every game is a final for us because we have to be in the Champions League.

"The players want this, the team want this, we have strong ambition and we belong there and we believe [in it]. But we also have to prove it."

Man United will be bidding to make it five Premier League victories in a row when they welcome Fulham to Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.

ID:537427:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect5466:
Written by
Matt Law

Click here for more stories about Erik ten Hag

Click here for more stories about Manchester United

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Manchester United's Rasmus Hojlund celebrates scoring their second goal on February 1, 2024
Read Next:
Rasmus Hojlund out for "two to three weeks" with muscle injury
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool22165154213353
2Arsenal23138244212347
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2313553327644
4Manchester CityMan City23125647301741
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle23125641271441
6Chelsea23117545301540
7Bournemouth23117541261540
8Aston Villa2310763435-137
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2381053531434
10Fulham238963431333
11Brentford2394104240231
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd2385102832-429
13Crystal Palace236982630-427
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham2376102844-1627
15Tottenham HotspurSpurs2373134637924
16Everton225891928-923
17Leicester CityLeicester2345142549-2417
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2344153252-2016
19Ipswich TownIpswich2337132147-2616
20Southampton2313191653-376


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!