Current World and Premier League Darts champion Luke Littler has called upon Manchester United players to help Rasmus Hojlund in the final third amid his struggles this season.
Hojlund was brought to United by Erik ten Hag in the summer of 2023 and has had a mixed start to his career in Manchester. In the 2023/24 season, the Dane bagged a respectable 16 goals for United, including an impressive five goals in the Champions League which saw the Reds eliminated in the group stages.
This season has been a dramatically different story though. Once again, Hojlund has been impressive in Europe with five goals in eight Europa League appearances but in the Premier League he has just two in 19.
On Sunday, Ruben Amorim decided to start Kobbie Mainoo as a false nine before picking Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee which perhaps showed the rut both of United’s centre-forwards find themselves in. Ahead of the start of the Premier League Darts in Belfast, Northern Ireland tonight, huge Reds fan Littler told BetMGM that United need to be providing the Dane with more service if they are to see the best of him.
“I just think up front Hojlund needs support,” the 18-year-old explained. “They’ve got a lot of creative options around him but I do think he needs a bit of help at the top end of the pitch.
Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund
(Image: Offside via Getty Images)
“Amorim has moved a few things around and I can see signs of progress.” While qualifying for Europe looks to be a tough ask this season, Littler is not too concerned if United are not competing continentally in the next campaign.
“I think if we get Europe it’s a good thing but if we don’t it’s a good thing too. You’ve seen the likes of Chelsea do really well with no European football, so if United don’t get it this season they will be really fresh because they won’t have to play as many midweek games.
“I do have high hopes for us in the Europa League this season, though. I think we can win it.”
Speaking of winning, Littler will be hoping to get off to a perfect start tonight when he begins the defence of his Premier League crown at the SSE Arena. He will take on Michael van Gerwen tonight in a repeat of the Alexandra Palace final last month.
Premier League Darts fixtures tonight
Chris Dobey vs Gerwyn Price
Stephen Bunting vs Rob Cross
Luke Littler vs Michael van Gerwen
Nathan Aspinall vs Luke Humphries
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