Wayne Rooney sends strong message to Manchester United players about Rasmus Hojlund

Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney has urged the current squad to support Rasmus Hojlund as he seeks to end his drought.

The Dane has been trusted to be United’s main striker this season, but he has only two Premier League goals and seven in all competitions. His final goals for the Reds came in mid-December, when he spurred a 2-1 Europa League win over Viktoria Plzen.

This week, MEN Sport claimed that United’s coaches were becoming upset with Hojlund. Recent form from the striker has fuelled calls for the Reds to buy a centre-forward in the summer transfer window, but Rooney told BBC Sport that there are things the present squad can do to assist Hojlund.

“With myself, I had good senior players around me,” Rooney said before the game. “Sometimes I made mistakes and had horrible games, but I was surrounded by good players.

“He [Hojlund] is not getting any aid. Manchester United, in my opinion, play too slowly; the ball is moving too slowly, and the centre-forwards and strikers are simply waiting.

“They don’t appear to be running because the ball is moving too slowly… They need to bring the ball forward faster and cross into the area, which will benefit them (the strikers).”

After another goalless first half against Fulham, Rooney said: “His movement here is pretty brilliant, and he is slightly past the near post, so I think he is slightly unlucky with this one. He has tried and is making runs in behind, but I don’t believe Manchester United are getting near enough to support him.

“He’s attempting to gain hold of the ball and use his body. Fulham’s defenders have done well against him, but he is making runs and is willing, though he is a touch isolated out wide.

“He simply wants someone here to lay the ball off to so he can go back in the box. He grabs the ball again, but this time it’s sloppy.

“Not only Hojlund, but Joshua Zirkzee has handed up the ball much too often. There isn’t enough creativity, and they’re not holding up the ball for midfielders and defenders to help them, so I believe the problem is a combination of the two.”