Former Manchester United striker Andy Cole is pleased to see Rasmus Hojlund scoring for the club, though believes the Dane and the rest of the current crop have it far easier than when he was playing.

Cole was prolific for United during his time at the club, scoring 121 goals in 275 appearances for the club across all competitions, and broke the 20-goal barrier in three successive seasons from 1997 to 2000.

The English forward played an integral role in United fighting on all fronts and helped the club claim five Premier League titles, two FA Cups and one Champions League. Erik ten Hag's side, by contrast, are currently fighting just to secure a top-four finish at present.

Highlighting how the demands placed on him were far greater than those facing Hojlund and the rest of Ten Hag's team, Cole said: "In my day, you were expected to be getting 30 goals plus [a season] and vying to win the Premier League, Champions League. Back in my day, there was definitely more pressure.

"There is slightly less pressure now due to the fact the output when it comes to goals is far less. If you're getting 15 or 20 goals now all in at Manchester United, you're perceived to have had a good season. In my day, if you weren't getting 20 Premier League goals, you've had a bad season.

"I don't think anyone understands just how big it is when you play for Manchester United. When you see Manchester United from the outside, you think it is just a regular football club. When you go in and understand the ethos and expectations of the club, that's when you actually realise 'This is Manchester United'. Manchester United should be viewed like that and competing for all the major honours. Expectation levels will always be high for such a fantastic football club."

Hojlund will be hoping to follow Cole's example by continuing to be a crucial player for the club. The ex-Atalanta star has bounced back from his poor form at the start of the season, but questions remain over other members of the United squad.

"He's taken just a little bit of time to adapt to the Premier League," Cole told beIN SPORTS of the 21-year-old. "European football is always different. It's nice to see him up and running, getting goals and playing with confidence. He looks like he is going to score every game now.

"Manchester United have been so up and down this season, you don't know what you're going to get. One week you might get 'Man United look like they're back to where they should be' and the next week there is no pattern of play. It's all about marrying these things together and finding some formula whereby Manchester United are a very consistent football team."