Erik ten Hag may regret decision about Man United starlet – he is a “constant threat”

Erik ten Hag and INEOS may regret a decision about one Manchester United starlet, who was described as a constant threat this week.

The Reds have now finished their pre-season, and there were positives and negatives to take from the USA tour.

One problem appears to be the lack of goalscoring threat, especially after Rasmus Højlund’s injury.

While players such as Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho and Joshua Zirkzee will provide a much-needed boost, Joe Hugill’s loan exit could be something that the club regrets in the coming season.

Hugill praised on debut

Hugill departed the club on loan to Wigan Athletic days after his tremendous goal against Rangers. The 20-year-old made his unofficial debut for the Latics on the weekend and scored a great goal in a 2-1 defeat against Tranmere Rovers.

The striker made a similar run in behind the opposition backline to the one that Ruud van Nistelrooy praised him for against Rangers and he slotted the ball calmly past the goalkeeper.

Wigan manager Shaun Maloney was not delighted with his team’s performance against the League Two outfit but Hugill was one of few players awarded a pass for his performance.

“Tonight, in the second half, Tranmere came for us. We still played like it was a friendly, and they didn’t That was the difference, and the players all know that,” Maloney told the Wigan Today.

“Apart from the two centre-backs (Jason Kerr and Will Aimson), who I thought were very good, Baba (Adeeko) who was brilliant, Dion (Rankine) the same, and Joe Hugill’s efforts with and without the ball, I give him a pass as well.

“Everyone else, they got a message tonight. You can’t drift through a game at any level and think you’re going to be okay.”

Speaking further on Hugill, who is a natural goalscorer, Maloney praised his new signing who was a “constant threat” in behind the opposition backline.

“Yeah, I hope so!” replied the Wigan boss when asked if Hugill will be able to build on his impressive start. “His effort without the ball, he was a constant threat in behind.

“Yeah, Joe was fine. He was good for us tonight, and good for him to get a goal. Joe was good.”

United may regret loan exit

While Hugill is unlikely to ever become the club’s outright number-one striker, he has certain striker instincts that not many players possess.

With Højlund now injured and Zirkzee being the only recognised striker available for Erik ten Hag, it seems that Hugill could have had a role to play in the squad this season.

Ethan Wheatley excelled for the youth teams last term but is not quite ready for first-team football, while Chido Obi Martin is still only 16 years old. Hugill might have been ready for an important squad role as one of the only natural no.9s at the club.

Then, if Zirkzee hit the ground running and Højlund returned to fitness, he could’ve made a January loan move after several months around the first-team squad.