Gary Neville asserts Rasmus Hojlund won't excel as a striker
Gary Neville insists Rasmus Hojlund will not become a great striker
Gary Neville asserts Rasmus Hojlund won’t excel as a striker– Gary Neville holds the belief that Rasmus Hojlund’s journey won’t lead him to join the ranks of legendary Premier League strikers while playing for Manchester United.
Neville suggests that Hojlund might thrive better as the club’s secondary striker, especially considering his recent goal-scoring challenges despite a brief period of success earlier in the season.
Hojlund’s arrival at Old Trafford in a high-profile £72 million transfer from Atalanta last summer raised expectations, but injuries and a lack of consistency have hindered his performance in his debut season in the Premier League.
United’s offensive prowess has notably faltered, with Hojlund’s productivity dwindling after a promising start, marked by a significant decline in goals scored.
Rival supporters haven’t held back in highlighting Hojlund’s disappointing goal tally, especially as United manager Erik ten Hag recently disclosed that his first preference for a striker was Harry Kane, who eventually joined Bayern Munich.
Hojlund again struggled in Manchester United’s home defeat against Arsenal on Sunday
Despite his young age, Hojlund has been thrust into the spotlight as United’s primary striker, although he’s yet to complete a full season in the English top-flight.
Even with this learning curve, former United star Neville doubts that Hojlund will match the achievements of Erling Haaland or Sergio Aguero.
Neville doesn’t believe Hojlund will match the levels of Man City superstar Erling Haaland (pictured)
Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville expressed his belief that while Hojlund may not reach the status of a Haaland or Aguero, he has the potential to emulate someone like Ollie Watkins, setting a target of reaching 20 goals.
“I wish he had the opportunity to learn as the second striker this season. Reflecting on my recent interview with Erik ten Hag, where he mentioned Harry Kane, I believe Hojlund would benefit immensely from learning alongside or playing alongside Kane. It could potentially transform his game.
Moreover, at just 21 years old, he’s still refining his skills, especially in his inaugural Premier League season. His style of play reminds me of Darwin Nunez and Nicholas Jackson—both considered projects.
Currently, Manchester United relies heavily on him as their sole striker. Let’s disregard Anthony Martial, who hasn’t been in form for a while.
What’s intriguing is that Hojlund’s shot conversion rate has increased by 22%, surpassing both Jackson and Nunez when given opportunities. This suggests there’s untapped potential waiting to be fully realized.”
You might argue, “Well, that’s promising. However, there’s still significant room for improvement. Looking at the expected goals statistic, he’s only projected to score 7.4 goals.
The quality of service and delivery to him has been subpar compared to Nunez and Jackson, who are at 16.3 and 17, respectively—essentially double the opportunities.”
The 21-year-old has scored just once in the Premier League since February 18
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher responded to Neville’s remarks by raising doubts about whether Manchester United can settle for Hojlund not reaching the pinnacle of Premier League excellence.
Carragher questioned, “Is that satisfactory? Is it acceptable for Manchester United? I sympathize with Hojlund to some extent, but I can’t help but wonder, what sets him apart? What’s his standout quality?
He acknowledged Hojlund’s youth but suggested that perhaps he was brought into the spotlight a bit prematurely, stating, “I think he may have been brought in a couple of years too early.”
Hojlund recently completed his eighth consecutive Premier League appearance since returning from injury, but his performance in Sunday’s 1-0 loss to Arsenal reflected ongoing struggles to make an impact, particularly against defenders like William Saliba and Gabriel.
Manchester United fans are growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of support Hojlund receives from wide players such as Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho. Neville attributes much of Hojlund’s goal-scoring difficulties to this lack of service.
Neville highlights the challenging circumstances Hojlund faces, being a young striker in a team grappling with inconsistency and changes, not just defensively but also in attack.
Hojlund often finds himself unable to anticipate when the ball will arrive in the box, hindering his effectiveness. The inconsistent performance of his teammates further compounds the issue, affecting Hojlund’s ability to thrive.
