Michael Owen ‘feels sorry’ for Man United star after Wolves defeat, fans are conflicted

Michael Owen has come to the defence of one Manchester United player after the club’s Boxing Day defeat to Wolves.

Ruben Amorim’s team endured their fourth defeat in five Premier League matches after a 2-0 defeat to Wolves on Thursday evening.

Although the Reds controlled the first half, they struggled to challenge Vitor Pereira’s side, who displayed superior energy and physicality throughout the match.

United’s situation worsened early in the second half when Bruno Fernandes was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.

Wolves took the lead when Matheus Cunha scored directly from a corner kick, the second time in a week United conceded in this manner, following Son Heung-min’s similar goal last Thursday.

In stoppage time, Wolves secured their win. Alejandro Garnacho lost possession on the left wing, allowing Cunha to launch a counter-attack and set up Hee-Chan Hwang for a straightforward finish.

Hojlund struggled during United vs Wolves

Rasmus Højlund was once again ineffective as the striker for United and departed after 79 minutes, with Joshua Zirkzee replacing him.

The Dane completed five passes, had 14 touches and failed to register a single shot on goal during his time on the pitch.

He has scored seven goals for the club this season but often looks isolated and barely able to impact games.

That is shown by the fact that he is averaging a single shot on target per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season. Six of his teammates average more.

Fans seem to disagree whether this is the fault of Højlund or the system. Some have called the no.9 position at Old Trafford as the ‘graveyard shift’ for some time now.

Owen feels sorry for Hojlund at United

Michael Owen has made his feelings clear on the situation, with the former Premier League striker saying that he ‘feels so sorry’ for the 21-year-old.

He was staggered to learn that Højlund received just six passes from teammates in the first half and believes that being striker for United is currently ‘the hardest position in the Premier League’.

“Højlund, I mean I feel so sorry for the lad and that first half, six passes he received. Four of them from the defenders,” Owen said on Premier League Productions.

“So in other words, four of them are probably hopeful longish passes and two passes in the first half from a player that you would want to receive a pass from.

Read More: Why Ruben Amorim ‘said nothing’ to Man Utd players after Wolves defeat

“And he’s supposed to do something with that? I can’t judge him as a player, I don’t know whether he’s good or bad, and that’s the most damning thing you can say.

“After watching him for a year, I just feel as if he’s playing in possibly the hardest position in the Premier League to play at the moment; centre forward for Manchester United.

“I never thought I’d be saying that, centre forward for Manchester United used to be the dream for every centre forward in the world, scoring dozens and dozens of goals and now it’s a poison chalice.”

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