Former Man United defender claims ‘it must be s***’ for Rasmus Hojlund to play alongside TWO of his team-mates… as he insists it’s ‘difficult when you never get the ball’

A former Manchester United defender has claimed it ‘must be s***’ to be Rasmus Hojlund given his struggle for service up-front. 

The £72million summer signing has had a turbulent start to his career at Old Trafford and had to wait until late December to score his first Premier League goal.

He’s since gone on to double his top-flight tally, netting a thumping effort during their recent 2-2 draw with Spurs, but scored five times in United’s ill-fated Champions League group stage campaign.

In mid-December, Hojlund was bottom of the list of main strikers when it comes to receiving passes from his team-mates this term. Across his 12 top flight appearances, Hojlund had been passed to fewer than 150 times. 

And United defender Paul Parker has suggested that two of Hojlund’s attacking team-mates are responsible for his lack of goals. 

Paul Parker insisted that there are two players that ‘no strikers want to play alongside’

According to The Metro, Parker said: ‘Honestly, it must be s*** to be Rasmus Hojlund and play with those teammates.

‘No strikers want to play alongside Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.

‘I’ve seen that Roy Keane has said that Hojlund hasn’t shown enough desire to score goals, but it must also be difficult when you never get the ball.

‘However, I can see where Keane is coming from because Hojlund sometimes doesn’t make the runs into the box, which is a weakness. He needs to improve on that.

‘I’ve said it before, but he needs to be more selfish. He should demand to get the ball every time.’

Rashford and Garnacho have provided just four assists in the Premier League, which points towards United’s struggles in attack.  

Rashford inked a bumper £300,000 deal until 2028 in the summer but has since encountered one of the worst spells of his career. 

But Hojlund has not been free of criticism. During United’s 2-0 win over Wigan earlier this month, Keane slammed the Dane for his output in front of goal. 

Parker named Marcus Rashford (left) and Alejandro Garnacho (second from the left) as the two attackers that have caused Hojlund to struggle

Between them, the two wingers have provided just four assists in the Premier League

After co-pundits Ian Wright and Roberto Martinez defended the Danish forward – who scored five goals in six Champions League appearances – Keane ripped into the striker. 

‘You’re too kind, you’re too kind, I’d be fuming with him,’ the former United captain said.

‘Tonight, they [Man United] brought their habits from the Premier League in terms of missing chances, not being clinical. I want to see that side of United tonight. 

‘With the striker, he’s missing his chances, so we can say unlucky, oh dear. Create opportunities, put them in the back of the net, stop messing about!’