Andy Cole gives Rasmus Hojlund verdict and criticises two Manchester United players

Andy Cole insists Rasmus Hojlund's work-rate will keep him in Manchester United fans' good books and hopes to see him in the goals soon.

Hojlund was handed his first start for United during Saturday's 3-1 defeat at home to Brighton and Hove Albion. The Dane had been sidelined for the first month of his Reds career after a stress fracture was flagged during medical tests.

Having stared brightly, Hojlund was unfortunate to see what would have been a first goal for the club chalked off after VAR adjudged Marcus Rashford to have taken the ball out of play. But Cole has urged the youngster to keep working hard and predicted goals to follow.

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“He’s got loads of energy, he’s youthful, he obviously still a bit raw but he will always aim to challenge the centre-backs," Cole told Betfred. "When I was at Newcastle United, Kevin Keegan used to say that David Kelly, who I played with, would chase a piece of paper and that’s what Rasmus does and he works really hard for his team.

"It’s a shame for him that his goal was disallowed, but Rasmus just needs to continue to work hard because he’s completely different to what we’ve had for a while. That’s the reason why the Manchester United fans are so on his side because they haven’t seen a centre forward that gives everything for a long while.

"Fingers crossed he can get off the mark in the next couple of games and he can get himself up and running.”

Hojlund's start to life in Manchester has been a rare positive in an otherwise underwhelming start to the season. United have now lost three of their opening five