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While Manchester United are certainly not out of the woods yet in terms of their disappointing start to the season, there was a glimmer of hope as they came back from a controversial goal behind against Brentford yesterday to win their first game in a month.

One player who has taken a lot of stick during the last few weeks is Rasmus Hojlund. The start to his season was delayed due to an injury sustained in United’s opening match of their USA tour this summer against Arsenal, shortly after he had scored a classy goal to put the Red Devils ahead.

His much anticipated comeback following that injury started with three substitute appearances against Crystal Palace, FC Twente and Spurs before his first start against FC Porto in the Europa League.

It took him just 20 minutes to get off the mark in that game but overall it was a rusty performance, perhaps to be expected from a player who missed all but a few minutes of pre-season.

Hojlund drew a blank against Aston Villa and looked off the pace, particularly struggling with his hold up play and playing with his back to goal.

It perhaps speaks to United fans’ overall frustration with the team that already social media was awash with accusations that their side lacks a “proper striker”.

During the international break, Hojlund himself told reporters that “I might be ready to play 90 minutes, but if I also use my brain a little bit, I don’t think 90 minutes on Saturday against Spain is a good idea.”

He also sat out of a day’s training as his patient road to recovery continued.

But yesterday against Brentford, while again being restricted to 74 minutes, fans finally got a glimpse of what the Dane is capable of at Old Trafford in a superb performance.

There were groans early on when he was dispossessed with his back to goal, but from that moment on his performance was flawless.

An analysis of his display was covered here yesterday and is backed up by excellent statistics that led him to a creditable 7.5 rating on sofascore.com.

What was particularly pleasing was the finesse he displayed on several occasions, with deft skill moves that allowed him to wriggle free of his marker, and a sublime chip for the winning goal that left fans and pundits alike drooling.

One of the big problems Hojlund has had at United is that he has been starved of chances, with yesterday being no exception. His expected goals was only 0.42, which is his average so far for the season. That is fewer than wingers Marcus Rashford (0.66) and Alejandro Garnacho (2.77).

Compare the figure, for example, to Harry Kane’s season xG at Bayern Munich of 5.51 or Erling Haaland’s at Manchester City of 6.5.

It must be said that all four of United’s wingers, including Amad and Antony, all tend to look to score themselves first rather than seeing themselves as providers for their centre forward.

Although it could be argued that Hojlund needs to work on the timing of his runs and his positioning to make himself easier to find, he is never going to be on the receiving end of countless crosses with the current system and personnel around him.

That being said, yesterday showed that as he returns to full fitness and the team around him regains its confidence, United really could have a proper striker on their hands. And at just 21 years of age, there could be no ceiling to just how “proper” he can become.

Featured image Gareth Copley via Getty Images

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