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Manchester Evening 3d ago
Erik ten Hag gives Rasmus Hojlund update ahead of Manchester United vs West Ham
Source:Manchester Evening

Rasmus Hojlund starts for Manchester United against West Ham but he is still not at 100 per cent fitness, according to Erik ten Hag.

United drew 1-1 with Fenerbahce in the Europa League on Thursday night and must deliver an improved performance against West Ham in the Premier League. Despite winning against Brentford last weekend, Ten Hag's side currently sit 13th in the table but claiming three points in London would propel United into the top half.

United have not in their last two visits to the London Stadium and West Ham will be tricky opponents, despite pressure growing on Julen Lopetegui after a poor start to the season. Hojlund and Casemiro have been recalled to the starting team after being named on the bench in midweek and Joshua Zirkzee and Manuel Ugarte have been replaced.

"We have recovered, we had a good preparation together and now we have to go again. It's always a question about who is available and we have to make the best team from who is available," said Ten Hag when he spoke to MUTV ahead of kick-off.

"We hope every player who isn't available will return very soon because need all the players, we have so many games to play, but today we have to do it with the squad we have."

Ten Hag added: "We've had some struggles with scoring goals and Rasmus Hojlund is the one who is most clinical for us. He was a big miss when we didn't have him at the start of the season. He's now returning and he's still not up to full speed, which is why he didn't start in Istanbul.

"But today he starts and we need more scoring, it's not only Rasmus, it's others who are capable of scoring goals and I mentioned Bruno, Rashy and Garnacho. They have to take responsibility. We have to win, we have to be a team that is hard to beat and turn into a consistent team."

United have struggled for goals throughout the campaign and Alejandro Garnacho is the team's top goalscorer with five in all competitions.