Rasmus Hojlund is set to make his much-anticipated Manchester United debut this weekend, with pressure already on to hit the ground running.
The Dane, 20, moved to Old Trafford from Serie A side Atalanta in July for a £72million fee - £64m plus £8m of add-ons.
But he has had a back injury picked up in Atalanta pre-season training when he joined and has therefore been unable to make his United debut so far.
Erik ten Hag's men have struggled in attack in the first two games, beating Wolves 1-0 thanks to a goal from defender Raphael Varane before losing 2-0 against Tottenham.
Last season's 30-goal top scorer Marcus Rashford has looked isolated in a central striking role which is not his best position, while captain Bruno Fernandes has not been clinical with the chances created.
So United are sweating on Hojlund's return - which is expected to be on Saturday.
The club hope he will be fit enough for a place on the substitutes' bench against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford at 3pm.
Hojlund only scored nine goals in 32 league games in his one season in Italy's top flight after moving from Austrian side Sturm Graz but has been described by Ten Hag as a 'unique striker'.
United were beaten 3-0 by Burnley in a secret behind-closed-doors friendly, with first-team stars Anthony Martial, Scott McTominay and Facundo Pellistri all in the starting XI.
However, Hojlund is understood not to have been involved.
Erik ten Hag is making a habit of using the current break between Premier League fixtures to get match minutes into his players after United used last week to play Everton in a similar outing.
Jacob Bruun Larsen, Jay Rodriguez and Zeki Amdouni scored for the Clarets as Vincent Kompany's men picked up some much-needed minutes ahead of their clash with Aston Villa on Sunday.
Some of United's first-team players who were either nursing injuries during pre-season or didn't get as many minutes as they would have wanted have been at the forefront of attention during friendly clashes.
Iron-U
504
Be here for fun, don't put your head or trust in the teams. These are companies doing business. Support the level you can and move on. Don't allow any club that you don't have any direct benefits from to define your happiness or push you into insulting your fellow fans. From City, United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Newcastle United, etc. these are clubs established to maximise promise. Always remember that.
jaubcdenp
484
I'm beginning to hate this club I don't know why I just choose them from the beginning.
Nigeria376778
455
A team with one striker is not ready for competition.
Prospera2550a
257
We hope he comes good for United Hojlund. 🙏
hoaadeimry
190
The problem is a dead mid,it makes strikers seem useless and defenders looking over pressured . We need strong holding midfielders otherwise our attack and defence will still look shit .
25489464(deleted)
183
He will score early in some of his first matches then the fans will hype him and even compare him to Hallaand. Then the next boom new Lukaku with a little mix of Sancho.
Yebdeilmos
9
I'm beginning to hate this club I don't know why I just choose them from the beginning.
get off already, we don't need bad energy you bear. fake fan . reading this makes me sick.