Manchester United have to repair their mentality by cutting out three small-time antics
Someone at Manchester United should tell Rasmus Hojlund it is February.
His February last year consisted of a goal against Wolves, a goal against West Ham, a goal against Aston Villa and two goals at Luton Town. He received the Premier League Player of the Month award.
This February started with another demotion for Hojlund. His non-existent cameo against Crystal Palace has extended his lean spell to 13 games without a goal. That is half the number of matches Diego Forlan went without scoring at the beginning of his United career in 2002.
Hojlund turns 22 on Wednesday. Journalists must think twice before dubbing him a "youngster". England is the fourth top-flight league he has played in.
The Denmark international has been at United for 18 months. Hojlund should know the terrain and start marking his territory at the apex of United's attack. Instead he is worse than he ever was during a tumultuous but creditable first season.
Hojlund has not scored in 25 out of 30 games this season. For Joshua Zirkzee, it is no goals in 32 out of 35 appearances. He has one goal in his past 16 games.
And still United did not recruit a goalscorer in the winter transfer window. It was bad enough three years ago when they passed on Luis Diaz, Julian Alvarez and Dusan Vlahovic. Ralf Rangnick threw the amateurish recruitment department under the bus and United finished sixth that season. They are nearer 16th now.
United's attacking department has been halved with the departures of Marcus Rashford, Antony and Ethan Wheatley on loan. Rashford and Antony will not be missed and Wheatley needed playing time in the Football League.
The attack has been a one-man band for portions of the season with Amad. Alejandro Garnacho stayed, at least, much to