Newcastle defeat highlighted another Manchester United transfer objective for January

When the team news dropped an hour before Manchester United's 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday night, almost everyone was trying to make sense of Erik ten Hag's thinking.

The Dutchman, who was under pressure to deliver a positive result after the 3-3 draw with Galatasaray 72 hours earlier, named a starting XI that was not without its surprises. As well as naming two right-backs in his back-four and a left-back at centre-back, he also left Rasmus Hojlund on the bench.

It was the first time that United had started a Premier League match without him that he had been available for since the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on September 3. That date marked the 20-year-old's United debut.

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Since making his United bow, Hojlund has made a further nine Premier League appearances, but his wait for his first league goal is still ongoing. He has plundered five for the club so far, all of which have arrived in the Champions League.

The majority of United fans are, however, prepared to be patient with the former Atalanta striker, recognising that he is still adapting to life in England, is young and has fed off scraps for much of the season. Nevertheless, given he was signed to become the face of United's new forward line, surely he is a better option to lead the line than Anthony Martial?

The Frenchman started ahead of Hojlund at St James' Park, much to everyone's surprise, and it was a decision that backfired miserably. Martial used more energy arguing with his manager than he did trying to lead United's attack.

He lasted 61 minutes - 23 minutes fewer than he had managed at Goodison