Ten Hag backs Hojlund to come good at Man United and insists striker needs time to develop

Erik ten Hag insists that Rasmus Hojlund needs to be given time to develop at Manchester United and is confident the young striker will prove to be a big success at the club.

The Red Devils take on Newcastle United at Old Trafford on Wednesday night with their hopes of securing European football very much in the balance after a troubled end to the campaign that has seen them win just once in eight games.

Ten Hag's side are eighth in the Premier League, three points behind Newcastle who are sixth but with the Magpies enjoying a vastly superior goal difference.

Spearheading Man United's attack against the Magpies will likely once again be 21-year-old Hojlund, signed from Serie A side Atalanta last summer in a deal worth around £72 million.

The Dane struggled in front of goal at first, only registering his first Premier League goal against Aston Villa on December 26 after 1,026 minutes without finding the back of the net. Hojlund's tally currently stands at eight in 21 league games while he has notched 14 times across all competitions.

Not a disastrous return in any young striker's first season, especially in a team that has struggled for form and consistency. But reports have emerged throughout the season about teammates having doubts about Hojlund and his finishing ability.

The Manchester Evening News even suggested on Monday that some United players are reluctant to pass the ball to him and have even been looking for other options in the final third.

Finding the back of the net has a problem for the United team as a whole all season – they have managed just 52 goals which is the lowest of any team in the top 11 and 39 behind division top-scorers Manchester City.

But Ten Hag, whose own future at the club remains very much