Ten Hag and Scholes rate Hojlund's hunger

Hojlund scored twice at Old Trafford, once at either end of the ground, but the Reds fell to a 3-2 defeat which leaves us in a perilous position when it comes to qualifying from Group A of this season’s UEFA Champions League.

Although United are still to get off the mark in terms of points in the competition, Hojlund has three goals in two games, meaning he is the tournament’s leading scorer at this early stage.

And Ten Hag thinks Rasmus is adapting well to his new club, even during this difficult spell.

“I’m sure he has great qualities,” Erik began, when asked by MUTV’s Stewart Gardner if United fans had experienced a real taste of what is to come from the Scandinavian striker.

“We have seen something from him today but also from other games, where we’ve seen he’s always in the right spot.

“He’s very hungry for scoring goals, but also in other facets of the game, in stages, he’s doing really well. You see him improving from game to game, so I’m really pleased with his performance.”

Hojlund’s showing at the Theatre of Dreams, where he could have had a hat-trick, had it not been for a marginal offside call, also impressed another onlooker.

United legend Paul Scholes was on punditry duty for TNT Sports and compared Hojlund to a former Red who certainly knew where the goal was.

“When United lose a game like this, you’re normally really disappointed but I think I see enough in the team tonight which really excited me,” said Scholes.

“Hojlund, especially, took his two goals brilliantly. I absolutely loved his second goal, in particular. He gave the centre-half no chance with a clean pair of heels.

“He also had another goal disallowed and I thought: ‘Wow, there’s a bit of [Ruud] van Nistelrooy in there.’ He really excited me.”