Rasmus Hojlund will quickly find himself under intense pressure at Manchester United if his back injury prevents him hitting the ground running, according to Mail Sport's Chris Sutton.
United have shelled out £72million for the Danish striker but, as Mail Sport exclusively revealed this week, he is nursing a problem that will restrict his early season game time.
An MRI scan conducted on Hojlund as part of his medical revealed a stress response hotspot in his back, which can lead to more serious stress fractures among young players.
It means Erik ten Hag will have to be careful with how often he plays Hojlund for fear of making the issue worse.
Sutton expressed his doubts about the 20-year-old's scoring record and whether he is good enough for a United side desperately in need of more goals.
He told the brand new podcast It's All Kicking Off: 'That is incredible. A lot has been made about this signing, over £70million all-in-all.
'Looking at his record, it's not like [Erling] Haaland signing for Manchester City, where he signed for them with a real goalscoring pedigree.
'He was at Copenhagen, went to Austria with Sturm Graz for a season, wasn't overly prolific there, then Atalanta and he didn't get into double figures. Nine goals in 30-odd games. That's not an incredible strike rate as such.
'I think he will be a work in progress and what doesn't help is if he has come with a back injury because if you go to a big club you have to hit the ground running and that is going to be his issue.'
Asked by Mail Sport's Football Editor Ian Ladyman if United had wasted their money, Sutton replied: 'I'm not saying they have wasted their money but it is not going to help him going into a club where the eyes will be on him, to go and start banging the goals in and he's got an injury.
'It is important to get his fitness up and play lots of games, then you get in the rhythm.
'I'm not saying it affects strikers more than other positions but he has been bought to score goals at Manchester United, so the pressure is on.'
Hojlund won't be involved when United open their Premier League campaign at home to Wolves on Monday night and it was revealed on Wednesday the Arsenal game on September 3 could be his first outing.
It's All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football, launching with a preview show on Thursday and every week this season.
It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify
fidcelntz
0
how would someone take the risk I paying 130 euro and 135,000 euros and and pay that has concerned about what they're saying it's
GGMUSTAR
0
The Team is doing very very wrong to Greenwood..
he did wrong to himself you better shut up and keep your emotions aside
wumceilpu
1
The Team is doing very very wrong to Greenwood..
Asiwaju241
0
Maybe what you are saying is true. But are you seriously thinking what I said was wrong ?
I never said you lie but let’s put ourselves in the middle of this situations and wait for the outcome all we do is analyze they make the action’s happen
laacelnoz
0
you Glaser hopeless people bring back Mason Greenwood now!
haudelory
1
why buying a sick man. it is unreasonable ten Hag
soydistyz
1
Man UTD is better even without a strong number 9 we have already the dangerous wingers in our pockets Anthony , Rash and Ganarcho
towacenpsy
1
Arsenal has been robbed by giving them Rice who is already a flop
simadlnst
6
Please why can't you exercise patience .The so called sport pundits. If I am not mistaken, when we bought Martinez last year from Ajax,British sport pundits condemn him that he his too short that he will not excel in the premiership. Please leave this guy alone for crying out loud. Let us wish him all the best. Man U fans i believe this season will be a blissful season for this great club.United we stand.
Amine_Ermac
0
Whosoever scouted this guy deserves a Jail term.....why on Earth will Man.U cough out 72millions for an Injured player....why not add few bucks tomit and get Kane.....smh🤦
I don’t know how long you have been watching football or being a United fan. This is the market now. One of the my favorite all time United players arrived injured. Ruud Van Nistelrooy. How did that turn out? Everything in sports is a gamble. Harry Maguire cost more but has been killing us. So I will take that chance on someone who could potentially help us score goals mate.
suyamopstz
1
Whosoever scouted this guy deserves a Jail term.....why on Earth will Man.U cough out 72millions for an Injured player....why not add few bucks tomit and get Kane.....smh🤦
Jodadkmst
0
hala Madrid
Ibe7
0
meanwhile their Maguire is putting shamme on them as a nation
Gwu
1
EPL media just talk too much and create too much tension when there is no need for any. Let him start and we will all see for ourselves
Nnauthor
1
bring Mason greenwood back
Haucdenoru
1
we're wishing him speedy recovery and good luck
pythagorasofficial
0
Just leave the boy alone and let him breathe. He hasn’t played any game yet and you’re already judging. Y’all pathetic old fools.
hezbdopty
0
And he may not .
kceecakes
5
let him not hit the ground like TINUBU😂🤣🤣
19646244(deleted)
1
Ahhh yes Pogba got destroyed despite putting up decent numbers lol i don’t see this kid having any better season than around 15-18 in all competitions…… which would be poor…
Da90bi
2
If he hit the grond or he didn’t United we stand ❤️❤️
Cashmo
0
GUYS WOULD YOU LIKE RONALDO TO COME BACK TO MAN UTD?🤔👀👀
Cashmo
0
MAN UTD FOR LIFE ☝️♥️
Siralex900
3
We need M Greennwood back!!
jojo88
2
How come did he pass medical...This curious
Wepcdeoruz
2
you be disappointed
peeabdkmsy
0
This injury story is made up to bring greenwood back just wait and see
Maybe what you are saying is true. But are you seriously thinking what I said was wrong ?
peeabdkmsy
1
Every club sign players thinking they will suite the team all depends on the outcome
Seriously then why did they signed van Dee when they didn’t even have him the chance to prove himself . Rather than signing a player and bench him for the whole season a club should not even go for that player in the first place
modaprsu
1
Either man united recruiting team is dumb or the manager is not having the perfect vision to lead the team to glory. For around a decade man united made lots of poor decisions about the players they are going for. See Man City signing the players they think can fit in the team .
Every club sign players thinking they will suite the team all depends on the outcome
Asiwaju241
0
Either man united recruiting team is dumb or the manager is not having the perfect vision to lead the team to glory. For around a decade man united made lots of poor decisions about the players they are going for. See Man City signing the players they think can fit in the team .
This injury story is made up to bring greenwood back just wait and see
Tipabcelsy
6
We supported Werghost , we've always had Martial's back...Hojlund has our support..just leave the kid alone
Shmonny
3
Best of Harry Maguire
Shmonny
3
That day will definitely come when people will start to love him 🥺 We'll miss u Captain Best of luck for ur future 💫
S100K
5
Allow the boy to even start training, you soon Sayers. He'll disgrace you soon and you'll eat your useless words
peeabdkmsy
1
Either man united recruiting team is dumb or the manager is not having the perfect vision to lead the team to glory. For around a decade man united made lots of poor decisions about the players they are going for. See Man City signing the players they think can fit in the team .
Davidnuugulu
0
😈 is a lie 🚮🚮🚮