have been dealt a blow ahead of Saturday’s game against with unavailable for selection.
The summer signing from Atalanta finally broke his Premier League duck at the 15th time of asking against Aston Villa earlier this week and would’ve hoped to build on that momentum.
Erik ten Hag will, however, be without the Denmark international due to illness and has been forced to make changes to his forward line once again.
Hojlund’s absence meant a return to the starting line-up for Antony, with Amad Diallo back in the first team squad and rewarded with a place on the bench following his return to fitness.
With Anthony Martial still absent, also due to illness, Ten Hag was left with little option but to deploy Marcus Rashford through the middle, despite the England international struggling in that position previously.
‘Rasmus Hojlund is not available today due to illness,’ confirmed Ten Hag ahead of kick-off.
‘He doesn’t have the energy to start or be on the bench. You have to deal with it.
‘It is (a blow) but it happens we can’t avoid it and we have to deal with it.
‘Rashy is a good striker and he is very motivated he can play all the positions on the front line. We play Garna back on the left and Antony on the right.’
In his pre-match press conference, the United manager had maintained he had always maintained full confidence in a player who cost £72million during the summer.
‘I have to repeat myself but I trust him, I knew he could [score in the Premier League],’ he said.
‘His goals in the Champions League and in Denmark showed what he did as a young player in Austria, in Italy and he is a very strong character.
‘But, of course, this goal will give him confidence and belief that he is going to score and he is going to score more goals from this point on, I am sure.’
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