Rasmus Hojlund can break Anthony Martial’s two-year Manchester United duck vs Brighton

“I myself think that I made a good jump-in, and I hope that there are more minutes after the national team break,” said Rasmus Hojlund of his Manchester United debut.

The Dane twice featured as a substitute in his country’s two Euro 2024 qualifiers last week following his 30-minute showing against Arsenal. Hojlund had missed the first three Premier League matches due to a back problem but came through Denmark’s fixtures fine.

Erik ten Hag will be eager to include his new £72million signing in Saturday’s clash with Brighton when the attacker is bound to make his Old Trafford bow. The fixture will be a poignant one for his manager too.

The south-coasters swatted United aside in a 2-1 win in the Dutchman’s first competitive game as United boss. Retrospectively, the opening losses to Brighton and Brentford - 4-0 away from home - taught Ten Hag a harsh lesson, one that spurred United onto a top three finish.

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In retrospect, the defeats to both were moderately less embarrassing given the terrific seasons both had. This time around against Brighton, it will be different, though, and there is a chance for revenge.

Casemiro will be present while Alexis Mac Allister, Moises Caicedo and boss Graham Potter have flown the nest of the Seagulls. But Roberto De Zerbi is a more threatening equal to Ten Hag, who will be under pressure to squeeze out a result after just two wins in four.

He will meanwhile get a closer look at Evan Fergsuon, a player who is on United’s radar and netted a hat-trick against Newcastle last time out. United won’t be the only ones keeping a beady eye on the Irishman.

But Ten Hag will hope it is his current £72m investment that steals the show at the