Rasmus Hojlund responds to cheeky request from childhood friend and international team-mate ahead of Man Utd's clash with Everton

Hojlund has apparently promised to do "everything he can to score goals" this weekend after Everton loanee Jesper Lindstrom jokingly asked him to go easy on the Toffees this weekend. The Denmark striker scored twice in midweek against Bodo/Glimt, and Lindstrom messaged his countryman after the game, begging him to spare Everton a similar performance.

Hojlund has only scored one Premier League goal this season, but Everton are in beleaguered form, winning just one of their last five games, and sit only two points clear of the relegation zone. Lindstrom, who is on loan at Goodison Park from Napoli, has made eight league appearances for the Toffees this term.

Lindstrom said: "I texted him after the game (against Bodo/Glimt) to congratulate him on his two goals but told him not to score this weekend.

"His reply was to tell me he would do his best to score goals. I knew him from when he was about 10 years old. He didn't seem much when he was young. His Danish team didn't believe in him and that's why he left for a club in Austria where he smashed it and then he went to Italy and smashed it there.

"There is a good reason why Rasmus is in Manchester - he's a good player. He has qualities - like you saw on Thursday with some good finishes."

Hojlund will hope to add to his Premier League goal tally against the Toffees this weekend, while Sean Dyche's side aim to put some space between themselves and the drop zone.