Harry Maguire has suggested that he and his Manchester United ‘always knew’ that Rasmus Hojlund would find form after his £72million move from Atalanta to Old Trafford during the summer transfer window in a new interview.
The Denmark international struggled in front of goal during the first-half of the side’s campaign and was forced to wait until December to score his first in the Premier League against Aston Villa.
But since breaking his duck in the English top flight, the 21-year-old has been enjoying a relatively purple patch, scoring five goals in his last five Premier League outings.
Hojlund has scored 11 in total across all competitions and Erik ten Hag will hope that the former Serie A starlet can be the sharp prong of their attack as the club prepares to claw its way back into the European places in the second-half of the season.
For former club captain Maguire, there has been no surprise that Hojlund has rediscovered his shooting boots, with the England international stressing that in training, his team-mate has always looked ‘an exceptional talent’.
Rasmus Hojlund has been enjoying a budding purple patch after his £72m summer move
Former club captain Harry Maguire (right) has praised his forward for showing off his talents
Maguire stressed that in training it was clear to see that Hojlund would eventually succeed
‘We’ve seen the talent he has and now it is really clicking for him in front of goal,’ Maguire told Sky Sports. ‘We always knew that was going to come because he’s an exceptional talent.
‘He’s going to be a big player for this club. I’m sure he’ll keep scoring goals and there are many more to come.
‘As senior players you see a young player coming through – and he holds himself so well and so mature people don’t realise his age – but he’s come in with a big weight on his shoulders to be the main striker for Man United.
‘He’s had to play every game because of injuries but you see in training the work he puts in, the talent he has, the physical capability to play in this league, we knew he’d be successful for this club.’
Hojlund’s firmer footing has been part of a wave of youth talent helping Ten Hag’s team to wrestle an uneven season back under their control, with academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo and Argentina international Alejandro Garnacho considered to be two of the brightest sparks in the squad.
‘It’s really encouraging, the young boys…