Rasmus Hojlund injury: Progress and potential return date for Man Utd striker

Manchester United's positive start to 2024 has been dealt another blow in the form of an injury to a key player who had hit great form.

While the season has been disappointing as a whole for the Red Devils, a run of five wins across the Premier League and the FA Cup put Erik ten Hag's side back in the running for Champions League qualification.

However, Rasmus Hojlund, who has been integral to Man Utd's recent success, is the latest player to be sidelined with injury at Old Trafford. The Danish striker had just hit his stride, becoming the youngest player to score in six consecutive Premier League games, but now leaves the Red Devils without a focal point up top.

Here's when Man Utd's forward dynamo will return to the field.

What injury does Rasmus Hojlund have?

Last Friday, United released a statement confirming Hojlund had suffered a muscle injury and would not be available for the next two to three weeks, resulting in him missing the dismal defeat to Fulham on 24 February.

At his press conference ahead of the Fulham match, Ten Hag said: "It's a small injury, two or three weeks. It's the risk, playing high intensity. It's not a big injury but he has to wait for two or three weeks."

When will Rasmus Hojlund return from injury?

Having just found some consistent form at Old Trafford, Hojlund's injury could not have come at a much worse time for him and the Red Devils. Assuming that he misses three weeks due to injury, he won't return for Man Utd until just before the March international break.

While he will definitely miss the FA Cup fifth round and this weekend's Manchester derby, he could also potentially be absent for Premier League clashes with Everton and Sheffield United.

What Man Utd games has Rasmus Hojlund missed due to injury?

So far, Hojlund has missed just one match for Man Utd since his latest injury setback, but his absence proved costly in his side's 2-1 home defeat to Fulham. A limp performance deservedly saw Ten Hag's men walk away with nothing and their bluntness up top was alarming.

Hojlund was a huge miss for Man Utd, who thought they had scraped a late point only for Alex Iwobi to go up the other end and produce a 97th-minute winner.

How have Man Utd done without Rasmus Hojlund and who will replace him?

Man Utd seriously struggled without Hojlund leading the line against the Cottagers, with Marcus Rashford called upon to replace the young striker. While he prefers to play on the left, the England international has experience as a number nine, although you wouldn't have been able to tell against Fulham.

Rashford was toothless and largely anonymous against Marco Silva's side, and with Anthony Martial also sidelined with injury, Ten Hag doesn't have any other orthodox options to take Hojlund's spot.

READ THE LATEST MAN UTD NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP