IT was in the earthy and ramshackle main stand of Kenilworth Road that Erik ten Hag finally expressed a sense of vindication.
"We are very happy with our recruitment," were his first words in response to a question about Rasmus Hojlund.
Hojlund has notched a goal in each of his past six appearances for United and has eight in eight. He is on 13 goals, one shy of the 14 Dimitar Berbatov tallied in 2008-09.
The Berbatov comparison is useful. Berbatov was, at £30.75million, a club-record signing on that extraordinary transfer deadline day in September 2008. He was relocating north of the M6, having spent two talismanic years at Tottenham.
Berbatov was also 27 when he joined United, not 20 - as Hojlund was. Berbatov's 14 goals were spread across the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup, as Hojlund's 13 have been.
Berbatov's first season was decidedly mixed. He was so polarising a minority of supporters booed him as he warmed up against Portsmouth three days after an unsuccessful FA Cup semi-final penalty that was taken so casually it belonged in a testimonial match.
So, barring a sudden unfortunate set of events, Hojlund is poised to enjoy a successful first season with United on an individual basis. His stock is so high he should be aiming to break the 20-goal barrier. That would likely end any further mention of his £72m transfer fee.
Bu hikaye Manchester Evening News dergisinin February 21, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Manchester Evening News dergisinin February 21, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Ten Hag wants a £200k 'privacy wall' at Carrington
ERIK ten Hag has reportedly requested a privacy wall to be built at United's training ground, costing the club £200,000.
"There is no reason to expect any sort of statement after Sir Jim's meeting'
UNITED are yet to clarify Erik ten Hag's future following their executive meeting in London on Tuesday.
ETH says Ugarte needs time but it's hard to develop if he's not playing...
ERIK ten Hag's decision to drop the two central defenders he had worked with previously and pushed to be reunited with at Old Trafford attracted plenty of attention this week, but it wasn't his only surprising selection call.
BEV'S LOOKING TO GO CRAZY!
BEVAN French admits it will be 'a crazy feeling' if he can light up Saturday's Grand Final with another of his freakish tries.
HAALAND ON 'GABGATE' 'What happens on the pitch stays on the pitch'
STRIKER HAS ‘NO REGRETS' OVER THROWING BALL AT GAB
Root: Plenty of runs still to get
JOE Root insists there are 'many more runs left to get' overhauling Sir Alastair Cook to become England's record Test run-scorer.
'Local Retail Champions make our communities better places to live'
LOTTERY OPERATOR ‘EXCITED' TO RECOGNISE RETAILERS, SAYS ALLWYN CEO ANDRIA VIDLER
Badenoch or Jenrick to lead Conservatives
ROBERT Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch will go head-to-head in the final heat of the Conservative Party leadership contest, after James Cleverly was knocked out in the latest round of voting.
Letby told colleague of 'distress'
CHILD serial killer nurse Lucy Letby told a colleague more than a year before her arrest she was worried she had \"maybe done something wrong\" to babies, an inquiry has heard.
Idris acts to give youth a chance
IDRIS Elba has partnered with The Prince's Trust to launch a new project that aims to give a 'chance' to the young people of Manchester.