Ruud van Nistelrooy is said to have already delivered some key advice to Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund following his return to Old Trafford.
Van Nistelrooy, 48, rejoined the club earlier this summer amid a coaching overhaul that saw former assistant manager Mitchell van der Gaag leave.
He has quickly started working alongside Erik ten Hag, and his presence is seen as a potential boost for young forward Hojlund at Manchester United.
The Red Devils have had a disappointing start to the Premier League season, winning only one of their first three matches. After a victory against Fulham on the opening day, they lost to Brighton and Liverpool, leading to renewed scrutiny of Ten Hag’s performance.
Hojlund’s return from a pre-season injury has been a major topic. Despite his ongoing recovery, Van Nistelrooy has already expressed optimism about Hojlund’s future. Peter Schmeichel mentioned in an interview with Tipsbladet that Van Nistelrooy sees great potential in Hojlund but also highlighted that the team’s approach to utilizing him needs adjustment.
In addition to Van Nistelrooy, Dutch coach Rene Hake, who previously worked with Go Ahead Eagles in the Eredivisie, has also joined the club.
Hojlund had a strong debut season at Old Trafford after transferring from Atalanta last summer, scoring 16 goals in 43 appearances across all competitions. His performance earned praise from both supporters and Ten Hag.
With Joshua Zirkzee now joining the club to help manage the attacking duties, it will be interesting to see how Manchester United deploys their strikers when both are fully fit.
After Zirkzee scored his first goal for the club against Fulham, Ten Hag commented on the positive impact of the goal. “It’s very pleasing when a striker scores in his first game,” Ten Hag said. “It certainly boosts his confidence and ours as a team. It’s a significant step forward.”
