Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag confirmed that star forward Rasmus Hojlund will miss Saturday’s Premier League clash with Everton but he expects the striker to be back for the FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool on March 17.
Hojlund, sidelined by a muscle strain, has been absent from United’s lineup for the past three games, including matchups against Manchester City, Fulham, and Nottingham Forest. The Danish striker, who had been in stellar form before his injury, notched seven goals and two assists in his last six top-flight appearances.
Outside Carrington on Thursday, Hojlund was approached by United fans, to whom he responded with a tentative “we’ll see” when asked if he would be featuring against Everton this weekend.
“For next week, some players are planning to return,” Ten Hag told reporters on Friday. “Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka I expect them to be available for our game against Liverpool. Hojlund as well.”
Maguire has missed the last two matches, while Wan-Bissaka has not played since January. But Marcus Rashford, who suffered with an injury after scoring early in Sunday’s 3-1 loss at Manchester City, will be available for Saturday, Ten Hag added.
“(Rashford and Jonny Evans) recovered after the derby, so they are available. The rest is the same squad apart from Omari Forson. He dropped out, he has an injury,” he said.
United, who have lost their previous two league games, have suffered major player injuries throughout the season, and currently sit sixth in the table with 44 points.
“I have to do it, we have to do it with the players available. I will never complain about that. We have to get the best out of it, that is our aim,” the manager said.
“No team (can) deal with so many injuries. I think we played to maximum levels… in key positions you miss players who have a very high impact on the way we want to play.
“We’ll fight. It doesn’t matter who is the opposition, we go for the win.”
Everton, winless in their last 10 league matches, are 16th with 25 points.
