Erik ten Hag plays down Rasmus Hojlund injury blow & explains why Man Utd didn't sign backup striker after seeing his faith in Anthony Martial backfire

Ten Hag expects Hojlund to be sidelined for only two or three weeks, describing his injury as "small", but the in-form Dane's absence still leaves Manchester United very light up front in the immediate short-term, with Anthony Martial already injured. When pressed by journalists about not signing extra cover during the recent January transfer window, Ten Hag hit back, insisting that is an overly simplistic way of looking at it.

"It is a small injury, two or three weeks. It is a risk in high-intensity training," Ten Hag explained at a press conference, following on the club's earlier statement.

He added: "First of all, striker options are most difficult to fill this in, especially on our level. Last season, Martial did great things for us. We played our best football last year with Anthony Martial as a striker. He is also on high payment in this club, so when you bring another one in, you strike him out."

Ten Hag called it "naive" to suggest United simply should have planned better last summer, continuing: "Strikers are not cheap. We thought, we had options. When [Martial's injury] develops, I wanted to bring in a striker in the winter, but it was not possible. And, similar, was the problems we already had with FFP in the summer.There was real shortage on good options. That is why we were very happy to sign Rasmus Hojlund, who is a player at the level of Manchester United."

Since scoring 23 times in all competitions during what promised to be a watershed 2019-20 season, Martial has only found the net 19 times for United in three and a half years since. Plenty of that has been to do with inconsistent form, but injuries have also significantly hampered the Frenchman. Hojlund has been the undisputed starter for most of this season since his £72m arrival from Atalanta, and has scored more Premier League goals (7) since Christmas than Martial did in the whole of 2022-23 (6).

The forwards that Manchester United have recruited in January transfer windows since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 - Alexis Sanchez, Odion Ighalo and Wout Weghorst - scored just three goals in 61 combined Premier League appearances, with all of those coming from Sanchez.

Hojlund's sudden surge in goalscoring form had coincided with United winning four consecutive Premier League games for the first time this season, so replacing his impact is critical. A three-week absence would see him missing games against Fulham, Nottingham Forest (FA Cup), Manchester City and Everton. It will likely see Marcus Rashford move centrally to plug the No.9 gap, with a reprieve for Antony after losing his place to Alejandro Garnacho. Amad Diallo is another wide option.