Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has said that January arrival Wout Weghorst is doing "a very good job" for the team.
The 30-year-old moved to Old Trafford on loan from Burnley last month, and he is due to spend the remainder of the 2022-23 campaign with the 20-time English champions.
Weghorst has started all six of Man United's matches since arriving, with the Netherlands international taking on a key role, largely due to Anthony Martial's injury problems.
The forward has only scored once, finding the back of the net against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup at the end of January, but Ten Hag has said that he has been pleased with the Dutchman's overall contribution.
"I think in many situations I can see us being a good team with Wout [Weghorst]. Another scenario we would be better with [Anthony] Martial and I think Martial has some capabilities, skills-wise, he can be very variable," Ten Hag told reporters during Tuesday's press conference.
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"But Wout in that case is doing a very good job for us in pressing. His movement and his offensive moments are very good, he is the one who makes our players around him play better.
"To create spaces and also he adds contributions within the box. As a team we have to be better to co-ordinate that better because we have to anticipate on his movements, his movements are good.
"Quite a lot of times he comes close like the header when he hit the post against Forest. There was a penalty against Forest which he didn't get and he has many good actions. Already he had a lot of contribution to our performance and to our results in this moment.
"Especially for strikers, most of the time it takes time. Rashy [Marcus Rashford] at the start of the season, we discuss this often, and every time I did say it will come, I have told you. It will come and we will work on the routines, the team has to act better but I see his potential.
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"The same I see with Wout, he will score but in the meantime he does the other stuff very good. It is not about scoring as an individual, it is about scoring for the team, as the team has to win. I think he is doing a very good job in this moment in several aspects of the football."
Martial is again on the sidelines, this time with a hip problem, meaning that Weghorst is expected to start against Leeds United in the Premier League on Wednesday night.
As it stands, the forward will return to Burnley at the end of the season, but the striker recently vowed to do all he can to secure a permanent move to the club.
Weghorst contributed nine goals and four assists in 18 appearances for Besiktas in the first half of this season before making the move to Old Trafford.
Matt Law
