Erik ten Hag is thinking of using Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho as strikers to aid Manchester United with their offensive problems.
Number 9 is the first option. With a hamstring injury, Rasmus Hojlund will miss the season’s opening games, and Joshua Zirkzee, the €42.5 million summer acquisition from Bologna, has only recently begun working out with his new teammates.
With the Community Shield season opener against Manchester City less than a week away, that puts Ten Hag in a difficult situation.
In a preseason friendly against Liverpool on Saturday in Columbus, South Carolina, United had several opportunities but was unable to take any of them as they lost 3-0.
When Ten Hag suggested that Sancho, who had a public falling out with his manager and spent the second half of the previous season on loan at Borussia Dortmund, would be a solution, he replied, “That is what we can do if we do not have the availability of Rasmus.”
“Of course, Joshua Zirkzee is coming in. He has started training. But he is not so long in training so it will take time and he has to adjust to English football and our way of playing.
“Jadon can of course play as a striker. He can also play in wide areas but it could be he is a good option.”
Marcus Rashford is an other option. Notwithstanding a challenging season in front of goal the previous season, Ten Hag may want to explore Fernandes, a more aggressive midfielder.
“I think Marcus has done it before, he can do it and it is definitely an option,” Ten Hag said.
“But I think he is more productive from the left inside, when he is coming inside, so when he can arrive there he is most effective.
“But we also have Bruno Fernandes as a striker as well.”
On August 16, United takes on Fulham at Old Trafford in the Premier League opener.
(Photo: Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
