Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is standing by his controversial decision to allow striker Rasmus Hojlund to leave the club, despite a new injury to his main frontman, Benjamin Sesko, leaving the Reds critically short of attacking options.
Sesko Sidelines with Knee Problem
The situation has escalated for United after it was confirmed that summer signing Benjamin Sesko will be sidelined for approximately three weeks with a knee problem. The £73 million acquisition, who sustained the injury during the match against Tottenham, will now miss the crucial Monday night fixture against Everton.
This setback comes after the club sanctioned the departure of Danish international Rasmus Hojlund. The 22-year-old, who was a £64 million signing in 2023, joined Napoli on a loan deal with an option for a permanent £38 million transfer. Since his move to Italy, Hojlund has hit a rich vein of form, scoring four goals for the Serie A champions.
Amorim's Striker Dilemma and Defence
The timing of Sesko's injury has thrust Amorim's squad management into the spotlight. While the United squad contains other attacking talents like Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Joshua Zirkzee, who can operate through the middle, none are considered a traditional, out-and-out number nine in the mould of Hojlund.
Despite this apparent gap in his squad, Amorim remains defiant. He explained that he could not have justified asking Hojlund to remain at Old Trafford merely as an insurance policy against a potential injury to Sesko. He emphasised the importance of squad harmony and versatile players in modern football.
"Our thinking is that we need two strikers," Amorim stated. "Sometimes I prefer players that make two positions, because sometimes in these clubs it's hard to make everyone happy. Imagine that Rasmus is here, and you say: 'If Ben has an injury, you have more time to play'. It's impossible to manage a dressing room like that."
Academy Opportunity Amidst Crisis
The Portuguese manager pointed to the club's academy as a potential source for solutions during such injury crises. He specifically mentioned 17-year-old forward Chido Obi, who made eight first-team appearances last season but has not featured this campaign.
However, Amorim admitted that Obi's previous involvement may have come too soon for his development. "He played last year, I think it was too soon," he reflected. "We didn't have a team that we can put a young kid with 16 [in], that he will not struggle... It was completely necessary to do that but I think he started too soon, and sometimes it's hard to deal with that."
This leaves United navigating a tricky period with a depleted frontline, testing the depth of Amorim's squad and his strategic decision-making in the early stages of his tenure.
