Ruben Amorim needs to find a new Manchester United partnership - but there is a problem

Nine games into 2025, Manchester United have lined up with eight different attacking combinations.

After head coach Ruben Amorim's experiment of deploying Kobbie Mainoo as a centre-forward against Crystal Palace failed to come off, Rasmus Hojlund was reinstated as the No.9 for last Friday night's FA Cup victory over Leicester City.

However, he did little to justify his recall, stretching his barren spell in front of goal to 14 matches. He last scored the last time Marcus Rashford pulled on a United shirt back on December 12.

Often as a result of his rotation policy, Amorim has regularly flittered between options at the tip of his attack. However, it is hardly surprising when he has two strikers that have struggled for goals all season.

Joshua Zirkzee, fresh after climbing off the bench, ended his dry spell in front of goal against Leicester, bringing United level with one of the easiest goals he will ever score. Regardless of how simple it was, it will have done his confidence the world of good.

It is no secret by now that United need to sign a proven goalscorer in the summer. However, until then, Amorim has got to work with the options he has available to him.

Unless either Hojlund or Zirkzee go on a brilliant run of form at any point between now and the end of the campaign, the likelihood is Amorim will continue to rotate the pair of them consistently. Hojlund has started three of the last four matches but has become less and less involved, highlighted by his return of just one shot on target across those three starts.

There is no denying Hojlund has been starved of service, but United fans are losing faith in the Dane. He scored a very respectable 16 goals last season, prompting hopes he would build on that tally this