Manchester United icon snubs Rasmus Hojlund while picking best starting XI for Erik ten Hag after poor start to season
Former Manchester United defender Wes Brown does not highly rate the club's first choice striker, Rasmus Hojlund. The footballer-turned-pundit omitted the Danish forward from Erik ten Hag's best starting XI for his former side.
Manchester United signed Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta last summer. The Danish international signed a five-year contract after the clubs agreed a fee reported to be worth an initial £64 million with an additional £8 million in add-ons.
Hojlund had a decent debut season for Erik ten Hag's Red Devils, scoring 16 goals in 43 appearances for the club and winning the FA Cup. The 21-year-old is out of action with a hamstring injury he suffered in pre-season and is yet to feature so far this term.
Speaking to BoyleSports, club legend Brown snubbed Hojlund from his best Manchester United XI. He picked summer signing Joshua Zirkzee to lead the line instead.
"I'd have Joshua Zirkzee up front who I have been impressed with, for his size he is very good with his feet," Brown said (via Daily Star).
He selected Marcus Rashford, who has come under criticism from the Manchester United faithful, to support Zirkzee from the left. He chose Bruno Fernandes, who has played as a false No. 9 this season in Hojlund's absence, in the No. 10 spot to maximise his creative output.
"I'd stick with Marcus Rashford on the left and have Bruno Fernandes in the 10, having the freedom to create and score in between the lines, that's where he plays his best football," he added.
Zirkzee, who was signed from Bologna in the summer, has featured in all three matches for Erik ten Hag and scored the winner in their season opener against Fulham at Old Trafford.
Casemiro does not feature in Brown's best Manchester United XI
Manchester United have had a slow start to the Premier League season, losing two of the three matches they've played so far. After the opening weekend win, the Red Devils conceded a last-minute goal away to Brighton to lose 2-1 before they were crushed 3-0 at home to arch-rivals Liverpool.
Brown called for consistency in defence and called for new signing Matthijs de Ligt to play in defence alongside Lisandro Martinez.
"For me, Manchester United's best XI would be Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez, Matthijs de Ligt and Diogo Dalot in front of Andre Onana," Brown said. "It's about finding that consistency and I think they would gel together if they had a run of games and all stayed fit. Those centre-halves would both dig in."
A major omission from Brown's XI was former Real Madrid star Casemiro. The defensive midfielder was substituted at half-time after a subpar performance against Liverpool.
Brown has opted for new signing Manuel Ugarte to partner promising talent Kobbie Mainoo in midfield.
"I'd like to see Kobbie Mainoo and if Manuel Ugarte is fit, I'd like to see him playing after the international break. Ugarte hasn't been brought in to sit on the bench, he'll be wanting to play and hopefully he's fit after the break," Brown added.
For the final spot in the team, Brown picked Alejandro Garnacho over teenager Amad Diallo on the right.