Former Manchester United winger Lee Sharpe says Rasmus Hojlund can match the goalscoring levels of Erling Haaland.
After a slow start to life in the Premier League following his £72million move from Atalanta, Danish striker Hojlund has been in sensational form of late — scoring seven goals in his last six top-flight games.
The 21-year-old took his tally to 13 strikes in all competitions with an impressive double against Luton that secured United’s fourth straight league win.
In the aftermath of last Sunday’s 2-1 victory, the physical forward drew comparisons with fellow Scandinavian Haaland, who has netted 73 times in 80 appearances for rivals Manchester City.
“If United can do the same then I think with the goal-to-chance ratios they have, his goal record would probably work out just as good.”
Finding his feet
Hojlund did not score his first Premier League goal until Boxing Day but has netted in all five league games since — and Sharpe feels the goals were always likely to start flowing.
He added: “I would say it was inevitable that he’d start scoring like he is. It’s just been a matter of feeding him.
“We saw with a chested goal at Luton, another goal where he’s dropped inside and hit it from the edge of the box. He’s got all sorts of goals in him.
“It’s a lonely role at times up there on his own but if you can get the ball into him in the box, he’s a natural poacher and he’ll score bundles.”
Ahead of Saturday’s home clash with Fulham, they are now just five points behind Aston Villa and three adrift of Tottenham in the race for the top four.
Sharpe added: “I think United are coming into form at the right time. Senior players are coming back week after week.
“You sort of half expect a Villa side, that maybe doesn’t quite have the depth of squad that the bigger teams do, to not be able to sustain that level.
“And Tottenham, you sort of hope they do a Tottenham and fall away a little bit at the end of the season.
“When the pressure starts to build, I think United might be the stronger of the three.”
Main man
Another youngster currently thriving in the United team is academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo, with the 18-year-old making the midfield position his own since being handed his first Premier League start last November.
Sharpe, who broke into the United team aged 17 in 1988, remarked: “I know everyone talks about it but the composure he has at 18, he’s got the composure of a 30-year-old.
“He looks like he’s been in the team 10 years and looks so comfortable — he’s a class act.
“It’s also given a bit of a kick up the backside for the older players that are not getting in above him.”