Denmark’s manager, Kasper Hjulmand, has indicated that Rasmus Hojlund is set to make a comeback in the upcoming match against Arsenal this weekend.
Hjulmand has included the striker in his squad for the forthcoming international fixtures, signaling positive news about Hojlund’s fitness.
Despite his recent £72 million transfer from Atalanta to Manchester United, the 20-year-old Hojlund has yet to make an appearance for his new team.
His promising start was temporarily interrupted by a minor back issue detected during medical assessments, which prevented him from debuting even after being showcased at Old Trafford during a friendly against RC Lens.
However, there is encouraging news on the horizon as the young striker successfully resumed full training at Carrington last week. As a result, he has been cleared to join his fellow countrymen in preparation for two crucial Euro 2024 qualifiers against San Marino and Finland in the coming month.
The fact that Hojlund has been included in the squad strongly indicates that he is on the verge of returning to the field, with Hjulmand hinting at the possibility of his comeback occurring as early as this week.
“I’ve been in Manchester to watch Rasmus train and he’s in full gear, so he’ll probably be in the squad for the weekend,” Hjulmand told reporters after the national team squad was announced.
“There is of course a caveat, and he must show that he is ready this week.
“I have been in Manchester and have some clear agreements with the club. He should preferably get some minutes so that we can see that he’s there. He lacks game time, that’s clear, but he’s going to play a role, so we’ll have to see what he can do.”
United will exercise caution in their approach towards Rasmus Hojlund’s return to the field, prioritizing his well-being over haste.
This cautious stance stems from the identification of a stress fracture in his back during the medical assessment phase.
In recent statements, Erik ten Hag emphasized the necessity for the striker to undergo a complete week of training before being considered for competitive play.
Consequently, the Dutch manager made the deliberate decision to exclude the newly acquired talent from the lineup during Saturday’s 3-2 victory against Nottingham Forest.
The manager’s prudent approach reflects the team’s requirement for a methodical and steady reintegration of Hojlund, given the history of his back injury.
Despite a somewhat lackluster commencement to the season with just six points from the initial three matches, Manchester United’s attacking prowess has been in need of reinforcement.
None of the team’s forward players have managed to find the net thus far in the ongoing season.
Consequently, Ten Hag has leaned on Raphael Varane and Bruno Fernandes to secure crucial goals, exemplified by their decisive contributions against Wolves and Forest respectively.
This tactical adjustment underscores the team’s adaptability and resourcefulness in navigating challenging scenarios.
