Ruud van Nistelrooy explains how Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojlund can be a world-class striker

Joshua Zirkzee is yet to follow up his debut goal with a second in United Red. Rasmus Hojlund, meanwhile, has made just one in four league starts since recovering from injury.

But Van Nistelrooy, ninth on Man United’s all-time goalscoring list, has no doubts that the latter will ultimately prove himself a fitting recipient of the number nine shirt.

Ahead of the arrival of Greek champions PAOK at Old Trafford in the Europa League on Thursday evening, Van Nistelrooy explains what Hojlund needs to do to become a centre-forward worth mentioning alongside the very best players in United history.

And the good news is that Hojlund has a lot in common with Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres; the deadly Lisboan who just can’t stop scoring under Ruben Amorim.

Ruud van Nistelrooy gives advice to Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund

“(Hojlund has to) stay calm and believe in himself. Believe in his qualities as I do, just like his teammates,” says Van Nistelrooy as he takes on the interim charge against PAOK and Leicester City before Ruben Amorim starts life in the northwest of England on November 11.

‘He’s young. He is promising. The work he puts in will pay off. I have confidence in that.”

Hojlund failed to touch the ball in Chelsea’s penalty area for the entire first half of Sunday’s 1-1 draw.

But when the Dane finally got the chance to assert himself, it was he who forced the foul out of Robert Sánchez, allowing Bruno Fernandes to convert from the penalty spot.

Van Nistelrooy accepts that Hojlund needs better service if he is to match the remarkable standards Gyokeres has set under Amorim at Sporting CP. Although his excellent hold-up play and effectiveness when dropping deep means Hojlund can offer just as much outside the box as he can inside.

“Most goals are scored in the penalty area, so we want to get our players there as much as possible,” adds Van Nistelrooy, who has scored just one of his 150 Man United goals from the box.

“But it depends on the match. When he needs to hold his own and get players into third-man positions, he also does an excellent job. And he is a man who can change a game in a second, like on the penalty moment (against Chelsea).

Man United’s interim boss ‘isn’t worried’ about the lack of goals

Van Nistelrooy also hit back at claims that Man United’s lack of goals is due to a lack of creativity.

No team has missed as many so-called ‘big chances’ this season as United, with a whopping 25. Six of these were squandered by Alejandro Garnacho, leaving Chelsea with another draw in which the Red Devils’ best chances previously fell to their widemen. then their number nines.

Considering the way Amorim turned a certain high-heeled Swede into one of the most feared strikers in Europe – Man United supporters were blown away when Gyokeres’ hat-trick devastated Man City in the manager’s farewell Estadio Jose Alvalade – it’s hard not to be excited by the impact he could have on Hojlund.

A striker who has the same running power, explosive acceleration and instinctive finishing as Gyokeres.

“I don’t agree that we didn’t create enough chances! If you look at the statistics, we are among the teams that create the most chances,” Van Nistelrooy said during his press conference on Wednesday.

“It’s the conversation (we need to improve). That’s why I’m not worried. We create the opportunities, and with the talent we have – they are still young – there is a lot of potential.

“If results come, confidence will increase. That’s the most important thing when scoring goals; to trust. And I think these guys have it in them.”

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