Man Utd blasted by Alan Shearer over 'unfair' Rasmus Hojlund treatment

Alan Shearer has blasted Manchester United chiefs for their treatment of Rasmus Hojlund.

Hojlund in a £72million deal from Atalanta, though he has endured a mixed time since. It took the Dane until Day last season to score his first goal.

He ended up with 16 goals in 43 appearances in all competitions and his start to this season . Since returning to fitness, Hojlund has managed just two goals in 10 games.

But Shearer, the Premier League's record goalscorer, believes that it is United who are to blame for Hojlund's struggles. He insisted that the Red Devils should have signed a more established striker to aid the 21-year-old's transition to the club the size of United.

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"There’s no doubt that Amorim will want to bring a centre-forward in, because that’s one of the positions they need to strengthen. But I do like Hojlund and I think it’s been really unfair what’s happened to him during his brief time at Old Trafford," he told .

"The fee was huge, the pressure was huge and he wasn’t ready to lead the line on a regular basis. He would have been far better suited to be in and out, to learn and develop, rather than go in and be the No 1 for a club like straight away.

"Had it been done differently, it would have been better for him and for his time. But given the circumstances he faced when he arrived, he’s had to play far more than he really should have done. But he’s a really promising player and I like a lot of what I see."

HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Manchester United sign a striker in January? .

Hojlund has played in both of Ruud van Nistelrooy's games in interim charge so far. And the Dutchman believes that the Danish international has what it takes to succeed if he remains patient.

"My advice? Stay calm and believe in himself, believes in his qualities. Like I do and his team-mates do. He knows he's young and he's promising and the daily work he puts in will pay off in the end. Not only for him but his team-mates. And I'm confident in that," Van Nistelrooy said.

"I mean, most goals are scored in the penalty area, it's where we want to get our players as much as we can, but it depends on the games. There have been games where we've arrived many, many times, creating many chances.

"Unfortunately, we couldn't convert them all and that cost us a couple of results. But you have to deal with circumstances. When it's needed, to hold up play and get players into the third-man position and play on from there, he does a brilliant job [with that] as well.

"And, of course, he is a guy who can change a game in a second, like with the penalty moment [against ]. We just need one or two in the box, and you can be him but it can be the others as well, so that's a threat we always have."

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