Manchester United will be without Rasmus Hojlund for the opening month of the season, but are hoping to have him back for their first big game of the season at the beginning of September, it has been revealed.
The Red Devils announced the signing of the Danish striker after just one season at Atalanta, in a deal which could reach £75m with add-ons included.
He is set to take the no.17 shirt when Fred departs the club, but despite being Erik ten Hag’s marquee signing so far this summer he won’t be fit to play for some time.
This is thanks to a back injury that he picked up while with his former side, which is set to keep him sidelined for the opening part of the season.
Still in individual training, it has been reported that the striker is targetting a Manchester United debut against Premier League hopefuls Arsenal, which takes place on September 3rd.
This means that he will miss the opening game of the campaign against Wolverhampton Wanderers, as well as a trip to Ange Postecoglu’s Tottenham Hotspur side and a home tie against Nottingham Forest.
Rasmus Hojlund in individual training with Manchester United, as he continues his rehab 💪
The player could realistically debut against Arsenal in a few weeks 🔴👀 pic.twitter.com/cKHSND6mDK
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) August 9, 2023
As per the Daily Mail, ‘an MRI scan conducted as part of the Danish striker’s medical last week revealed a stress response hotspot in his back, which can be the start of stress fractures in young players’, and that ‘it is unlikely that Hojlund will be able to play two matches-a-week for some time for fear of developing into a stress fracture’.
It will leave Ten Hag with something of a headache over who to lead the line, with Anthony Martial currently injured and Marcus Rashford best on the left hand side.
