Rasmus Hojlund is not being given what he needs by three Manchester United players

"He wants to score goals."

That was Erik ten Hag's assessment when he, for the first time, explained why Manchester United had made the decision to invest up to £72million in striker Rasmus Hojlund. He joined the Reds from Atalanta in early August, ending the club's long-term pursuit of a new goal-getter.

After it became clear that Ten Hag's hopes of signing Harry Kane were going nowhere, United directed their search for a new striker in the opposite direction. Whereas Kane was proven and polished, Hojlund was raw and inexperienced.

Nevertheless, United's supporters, at the time, were prepared to give Ten Hag the benefit of the doubt after more hits than misses on the transfer front last season. It was an exciting addition, one that had been made with the hope of long-term benefits.

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"I think he has such a huge potential and now it is up first to him to explore that and we will support him – all the coaches," said Ten Hag. "I'm sure the whole team was waiting for a type like him and they will integrate and in the dressing room or on the pitch they will help him.

"But as I said, finally the player – he has to prove it."

Thirteen games into his United career, Hojlund is struggling to prove himself as a regular source of goals. He has just three to his name so far, each of which have been plundered in the Champions League. Saturday's 1-0 win over Fulham was his eighth blank in the Premier League.

The longer this barren run persists, the more fingers are going to be pointed at Ten Hag and United's decision-makers for making an expensive mistake. Hojlund,