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Erik ten Hag makes Rasmus Højlund decision ahead of Man United vs Southampton
Erik ten Hag has seemingly made a decision regarding Rasmus Højlund ahead of Manchester United’s return to Premier League action against Southampton.
The Reds have started the new Premier League campaign poorly, with just one win out of their opening three games. That included a 3-0 defeat against rivals Liverpool.
Erik ten Hag has quickly been placed under pressure, with reports that INEOS are expecting to see performances improve now that the international break is over.
Players have been away with their national teams or working hard on their own due to not being selected. Some are also aiming to come back from injuries.
Rasmus Højlund suffered a hamstring issue during pre-season that kept him out of the opening three games of the season.
It was expected that the Danish striker would return after the break and be in contention to play against Southampton.
Højlund unlikely to feature vs Southampton
According to a new report from ESPN, United will take a cautious approach to Højlund’s recovery, even if it means keeping him sidelined longer than initially expected.
The forward sustained a hamstring injury during United’s pre-season tour. The club initially targeted a full recovery after the international break.
This would have potentially seen him return for the game against Southampton, which has become a must-win following United’s poor start to the season.
However, concerns over the 21-year-old’s lack of summer fitness have led the club to adopt a more measured rehabilitation process. While Højlund has been training in the gym at Carrington and doing individual work on the grass, he has yet to rejoin full-team sessions.
The Danish striker will be reassessed this week before the match against The Saints, but ESPN sources claim the club is in no hurry to rush him back.
Instead, United plan to ease him back gradually, aiming to avoid the injury issues that plagued their 2023/24 campaign and contributed to their eighth-place Premier League finish.
Zirkzee to lead the line again
While it will be a setback in the eyes of many fans, this could provide a boost for Joshua Zirkzee, who impressed on international duty with the Netherlands.
The forward made his first start for his country and scored within 13 minutes with a clever header. He also grabbed an assist after creating four chances in the game.
Despite his difficulties against Liverpool in his first United start, Zirkzee still found himself in good goalscoring positions against an experienced backline.
He will be heading into this game confidently and hope to continue his impressive form from the international break.
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