Nine games into 2025, Manchester United have lined up with eight different attacking combinations.. After head coach Ruben Amorim’s experiment of deploying Kobbie Mainoo as a centre-forward against Crystal Palace failed to come off, Rasmus Hojlund was reinstated as the No.9 for last Friday night’s FA Cup victory over Leicester City.. However, he did little to justify his recall, stretching his barren spell in front of goal to 14 matches. He last scored the last time Marcus Rashford pulled on a United shirt back on December 12.. Often as a result of his rotation policy, Amorim has regularly flittered between options at the tip of his attack. However, it is hardly surprising when he has two strikers that have struggled for goals all season.. Joshua Zirkzee, fresh after climbing off the bench, ended his dry spell in front of goal against Leicester, bringing United level with one of the easiest goals he will ever score. Regardless of how simple it was, it will have done his confidence the world of good.. It is no secret by now that United need to sign a proven goalscorer in the summer. However, until then, Amorim has got to work with the options he has available to him.. Unless either Hojlund or Zirkzee go on a brilliant run of form at any point between now and the end of the campaign, the likelihood is Amorim will continue to rotate the pair of them consistently. Hojlund has started three of the last four matches but has become less and less involved, highlighted by his return of just one shot on target across those three starts.. There is no denying Hojlund has been starved of service, but United fans are losing faith in the Dane. He scored a very respectable 16 goals last season, prompting hopes he would build on that tally this term. He is not halfway to matching it.. But it is not just at centre-forward where Amorim has chopped and changed recently, regularly tinkering with the two No.10 positions, too. Amad and Mainoo started either side of Hojlund against Leicester, with Alejandro Garnacho dropping down to the bench before coming on at half-time and changing the game.. Rasmus Hojlund has gone two months without a goal. (Image: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images.). Since deploying a front-three of Bruno Fernandes, Garnacho and Hojlund for the back-to-back triumphs over Arsenal and Southampton last month, Amorim has deployed six different attacking combinations in the last six matches, in moves that have seen Christian Eriksen start two games as the right-sided No.10, Zirkzee lead the line twice and Mainoo start as the left-sided No.10 twice.. Therefore, it is somewhat obvious Amorim is tinkering in his quest to find a system that works.. United have experienced highs and lows since the turn of the year, and more bumps in the road are inevitable between now and the end of the season. But one thing that most people probably can agree on is that Mainoo looked at his best when playing in a more advanced role in the 2-0 win over FCSB in the Europa League.. He was excellent that evening, particularly in the second half when he moved to the right-sided No.10 role. However, Amad has made the right-sided No.10 position his own in recent weeks, starting three of the last four games in that role, meaning the position is his to lose.. As already documented, Garnacho swung the game in United’s favour when he was introduced against Leicester. He was also instrumental in helping United find an extra gear in Bucharest a fortnight ago.. Whether he is a tailor-made fit for Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system or not, United are far more dangerous when he is on the pitch. He has the quality to unlock defences and make things happen.. Alejandro Garnacho is a constant threat. (Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images.). With Garnacho’s importance impossible to ignore and Amad a regular starter in the opposing No.10 position, those two should be regular starters. However, they have only started together in attack twice since the turn of the year.. The impact of Garnacho and Amad both starting leaves Fernandes and Mainoo squabbling for the remaining midfield spot next to Manuel Ugarte. Fernandes has operated in a deeper role recently, last starting in attack against Brighton & Hove Albion on January 19.. In a desperate search for consistency in attack, Amorim has a couple of tough calls to make, but the lack of a reliable goalscorer makes it even harder. Fernandes might be the next option to be trialled through the middle.
