Manchester United manager Ten Hag makes admission about Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford partnership

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is encouraged by the "connection" between Marcus Rashford and new striker Rasmus Hojlund.

The £72million signing Hojlund made his full debut in the Premier League defeat to Brighton on Saturday with Rashford on the left-hand side.

With Rashford tied down on a new five-year contract and Hojlund under contract for the same length of time, the duo are United's prime attacking threats for the foreseeable future.

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Hojlund could be seen urging Rashford to cross for him before his disallowed goal against Brighton and Ten Hag is encouraged by their rapport on the pitch.

"Yes, absolutely," Ten Hag said when asked if he was speaking to Rashford about his understanding with Hojlund, "and how can the two benefit from each other. But they have to know each other and that process just started but at the same time, we need results.

"So it has to go hand in hand. We learn from every training and we learn from every game and we reflect. Of course, we need that as a coaching staff but also we have seen Rasmus and Rashy together, they are talking, how they can benefit from each other.

"You can see that discussion and that interaction on the pitch is going on and that is a good sign. I am sure they will get that connection, I think that connection is already there, and they will get the routines there."

United have lost three of their first five league games for the first time since 1989 and a turbulent start to the campaign has been exacerbated by off-pitch matters.

The disciplined Jadon Sancho and absent Antony are among 12 players unavailable to Ten Hag for the Champions League group