Manchester United need far more than the return of their £72million striker

Rasmus Hojlund's return to fitness can't come quickly for Erik ten Hag but he won't solve the early season issues alone.

The Denmark international is absent with a back injury and yet to make his debut for the Reds following a summer move from Atalanta. In his absence United laboured to a 1-0 win over Wolves before slumping to a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Tottenham.

It's not the start anyone at Old Trafford wanted and has raised more questions than answers. United have managed just one goal in two games and, just like last season, are struggling to find the back of the net. Two matches is clearly a small sample size but Ten Hag's men are displaying the same worrying traits that hampered them last term.

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Woeful away form was one but a lack of goals was another with Rashford's return of 30 in all competitions more than double anyone else. United scored just 58 times in 38 games, comfortably the worst record in the top six.

And the underlying stats show it's the clinical edge rather than the creativity which is the issue. United's XG for last term was 76.90, according to Understat meaning they under-performed by nearly 14 goals. Only Everton (14.65) had a poorer ratio in the Premier League and this season paints a similar picture. Ten Hag's men's XG for their opening two games is 4.42, as opposed to the one goal they have mustered, and the negative difference of 3.42 is the worst in the division.

Some of that is bad luck, some good defending and some individual misjudgement. United are getting into good positions