Erik ten Hag discusses Mason Greenwood amid Man United striker problems

Erik ten Hag mentioned the suspended Mason Greenwood when discussing Manchester United’s scoring problems in the frontline.

Greenwood, 21, had charges of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault against him dropped in February this year, but remains suspended by the club as they conduct an internal investigation into whether he should continue his career at Old Trafford.

United have been without a top class striker for much of this season. Cristiano Ronaldo left the club mid-season and the hierarchy could only give Ten Hag a January loan signing in Wout Weghorst, who scored zero Premier League goals, to replace the Portuguese.

Luckily, Marcus Rashford carried the side in the goalscoring department, scoring 30 goals across all competitions, with still a game to play. He scooped both Player of the Year awards for Manchester United at their end-of-season ceremony on Monday evening.

However, the next-highest goalscorer is Bruno Fernandes, who has just 13 to his name. Ten Hag has stressed that The Reds need another top class scorer to reach the next level.

But, the manager did not exclusively say that those goals need to come from a new signing and believes that it could also come from the squad at his disposal.

“What we need besides Marcus Rashford is one extra player with scoring abilities whether it’s coming out of our own squad or we have to sign one,” Ten Hag told The Times.

Greenwood had scored 36 goals for the club before he was suspended. Ten Hag added that he “showed in the past that he is capable of doing that [front role]” but he emphasised it is not his decision as to whether he returns.

It was previously reported by The Times that some players in the women’s team at United are ‘deeply uncomfortable’ about the idea of Greenwood returning to the club. The Athletic had also reported that United rejected offers for the 21-year-old from various Turkish clubs.