Manchester United will look to carry on their impressive recent form when they face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the Premier League on Saturday.
The game represents a chance for Erik ten Hag and his troops to take revenge for their 0-4 capitulation at the same venue last season.
While the manager played down such suggestions, the memory will be fresh in the players’ minds, and after scoring 10 goals in their last two games, they will look to put their opponents to the sword.
The Eagles have injury problems of their own to deal with, and things will get harder for them with The Manchester Evening News reporting that Rasmus Hojlund is fit enough to be named on the bench for the clash.
Hojlund on the bench
“Manchester United will welcome Rasmus Hojlund back against Crystal Palace with the striker included in a matchday squad for the first time this season.
“Hojlund hasn’t played since suffering a hamstring injury on his first appearance of pre-season against Arsenal on July 27, but the 21-year-old traveled south with the rest of the United squad on Friday evening and is set to make the bench at least.”
Rasmus Hojlund in a matchday squad for the first time this season. Likely to be amongst the #mufc subs at Crystal Palace https://t.co/hpxfDG2y2r
— Tyrone Marshall (@TyMarshall_MEN) September 20, 2024
The report also mentioned that Mason Mount was not pictured with the rest of the squad, which necessarily does not mean the former Chelsea star will not make the matchday squad.
The Dane suffered an injury in his first game of pre-season and ended up missing the first five games of the campaign but traveled south with the rest of his teammates on Friday.
Ten Hag had spoken about the former Atalanta starlet and United No 7’s return to training during his press conference and it is great to see that the manager finally has a problem of plenty.
Selection dilemma
Last season, amid a lack of firepower, the former Ajax coach was forced to keep playing the Denmark international even though he looked like he needed a break.
Now, with all his wingers in red-hot form and with Joshua Zirkzee impressing with his link-up play, Ten Hag has a tough choice to make from next week.
The manager will hope Hojlund can hit form from the word go with huge games in the Europa League and Premier League coming up.
The injury cloud that had engulfed the club at the start of the season seems to be slowly dissipating with Victor Lindelof and Tyrell Malacia spotted back in training while Leny Yoro is eyeing a December return.
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