Three Manchester United players can help ease Rio Ferdinand’s Rasmus Hojlund concern

Man United signed Rasmus Hojlund to solve their goalscoring troubles during the summer, but he cannot do it all on his own.

With two defeats from their opening two group games, Manchester United’s Champions League campaign has not offered much in the way of positivity so far.

After being beaten 4-3 by Bayern Munich in their Group A opener at the Allianz Arena last month, United squandered the lead twice against Galatasaray on matchday two to lose 3-2 at Old Trafford. It means they face an uphill struggle to progress to the knockout stages, starting against FC Copenhagen in just over a week’s time.

But in among the negativities, United can take a slight crumb of comfort from the fact summer signing Rasmus Hojlund is the leading goalscorer in the competition so far this season, scoring three goals. He netted a smart brace against Galatasaray after notching his first United goal in Munich.

Hojlund’s brace against Galatasaray was a ray of light on what was otherwise a dark and miserable night at Old Trafford. The Dane, who was signed from Atalanta in August, will be hoping that he can take his Champions League form into the Premier League, as he continues to search for his first league goal in United colours.

United have, of course, experienced an indifferent start to their Premier League campaign, winning four and losing four of their opening eight matches. Their struggles collectively have meant that no individuals have been able to hit any degree of form, with Bruno Fernandes and Scott McTominay’s tallies of two goals each cementing their positions at the top of United’s Premier League scoring chart.

For their highest goalscorers to be on just two league goals after eight games, particularly when one of them is not even a regular starter, highlights the sheer size of United’s ongoing struggles. After much of their success last season was built on defensive solidity, United made it their mission to recruit an elite-level striker in the summer to complement their high defensive standards.

So far, unfortunately, that grand plan has failed to work out, with United’s defence having been battered by injuries, resulting in Erik ten Hag being unable to rely on any consistency at the back. At the same time, though, there was nothing to suggest that Hojlund, or indeed any other striker, would have been able to solve United’s goalscoring woes alone.

Ten Hag has regularly reiterated the importance of everyone chipping in in front of goal, right the way through the team from front to back. Casemiro is currently United’s leading marksman in all competitions with four goals so far this season.

But it was always going to be unrealistic to expect Hojlund to come in and solve United’s goalscoring struggles on his own; he needed support from those who are also paid to find the net. Marcus Rashford has scored just once so far this term, as has Anthony Martial, while Antony and Jadon Sancho are yet to get off the mark.