MANCHESTER United new boy Rasmus Hojlund could face an extended spell on the sidelines after his Red Devils switch was confirmed last week due to a stress response hotspot in his back.
Otherwise known as a stress fracture, the issue is believed to be very common in younger players and is not a long-term cause for concern for those running the show at Old Trafford. The reasons behind the issue are often the constant running, twisting, kicking, jumping and landing and the impact that can have on soft tissue between the vertebrae.
More often than not, these issues take around two to three months to heal from the moment the last game was played.
Thankfully for United, Hojlund has not been in action since representing Denmark on June 19. Therefore, while still six weeks left to go in regards to the forward’s recovery, it could have been much longer had he participated in pre-season friendlies for Atalanta.
What United’s medical team will undoubtedly be wary of is how easily such a problem can arise again, sometimes even if the player themselves feel fine.
That’s why so much reliance is placed on scans, Red Devils physios will ensure scans of Hojlund’s back are what determine their decision on whether he is ready to return.
It looks like the current timeline will see Hojlund ruled out for another six weeks, meaning the Denmark international would miss the opening exchanges of the Premier League season.
It has been widely reported that United are aware that if Hojlund’s stress fracture is still ‘active’, they will have to be incredibly careful about how many games he plays.
Managing the 20-year-old’s workload cautiously could be key to whether the £72 million man has a successful debut season at Old Trafford.
News of the stress fracture will of course frustrate Hojlund, who seems desperate to get out and contribute to United’s efforts as Erik ten Hag’s men look to challenge for the biggest honours this coming campaign.
“I’m very excited,” he told MUTV. “I want to bleed for this jersey, and I want to win some trophies, so that’s why I came here. Of course, I’m 20 years old, so I have a lot still to learn, but I hope I can become a world-class striker as soon as possible.
Keen to test himself in the Premier League, Hojlund added: “That’s also why I come here, I know it’s the most competitive league in the world.
“Playing for Man United has always been my dream. So, this is two very important components which make me take this decision to come here. So, [I’m] just looking forward to start working and getting on the pitch.” – Mirror Sport