Amorim has to drop 17-touch struggler who fans were heard growing ‘frustrated’ with vs So’ton

Stretty News

·17 janvier 2025

Amorim has to drop 17-touch struggler who fans were heard growing ‘frustrated’ with vs So’ton

Amad Diallo’s emphatic late heroics to solely complete a full turnaround against Southampton last night spared the blushes of his out-of-sorts teammates.

The Manchester United starlet single-handedly ensured that the side avoided dropping points to the 20th-placed Saints, who were on course to win only their second game of the season until Amad intervened in the 82nd minute.

Vidéos OneFootball

He levelled the scoring before adding a further two to his tally to become United’s youngest-ever hat-trick ‘scorer at Old Trafford in the Premier League.

Alas, questions must be asked of the rest of the squad who were deployed from the off last night, particularly Rasmus Hojlund and Manuel Ugarte. The latter etched his name onto the scoresheet for all the wrong reasons when Tyler Dibling’s flick-on at the near post from a corner nestled into the net off of the Uruguayan to gift the visitors the opener.

Another invisible showing from Hojlund

Hojlund lasted 53 minutes before being withdrawn from the action. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

As for Hojlund, he again offered little to nothing in attack and has now gone six league matches without scoring – despite starting in five of the outings.

The 21-year-old has merely two goals in his account for the campaign thus far, prompting concerns over his suitability to lead the line each week. Such a sentiment is being echoed in the stadium, too, as Samuel Luckhurst stated during the clash: “Plenty of United fans now starting to get frustrated with Hojlund, who has barely had a kick and lost almost every duel he’s been involved in.”

Prior to his 53rd-minute substitution, Hojlund recorded zero shots on target, 17 touches and one big chance created. He won only one of his four ground duels attempted and one of his six aerial duels attempted.

Joshua Zirkzee, who replaced his striking counterpart, was then hailed by supporters for ‘completely changing the game’ with his intensity and sharpness when he entered the fray.