Erik ten Hag could quickly cut his losses as he considers axing Man Utd signing
Wout Weghorst has only scored one goal in seven games for Manchester United, and manager Erik ten Hag is considering dropping him from the starting lineup against Leeds.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is considering changing his team’s attack for Sunday’s Premier League match at Leeds, with Wout Weghorst’s starting spot on the line.
Weghorst was signed on loan from Burnley until the end of the season to fill the vacuum left by Cristiano Ronaldo’s acrimonious exit before the World Cup. Since joining Ten Hag’s squad, the 30-year-old has started all seven matches.
The Dutch international’s lone goal for his new club, however, came in the EFL Cup triumph over Nottingham Forest. With Anthony Martial now injured, he has been given a run of games in a central attacking position.
Weghorst, on the other hand, struggled to make an impact against Leeds in the midweek Premier League match, and he was replaced before the hour mark. As United adjusted their offensive, Jadon Sancho and Facundo Pellistri replaced Weghorst and Alejandro Garnacho, and they scored twice to salvage a point.
These alterations allowed in-form striker Marcus Rashford to move into a central role, with Sancho moving to the left flank and Pellistri flourishing in a rare opportunity on the right.
Weghorst completed only four passes in the final third of his hour-long cameo at Old Trafford, with only one of those coming in the Leeds penalty area. Furthermore, he only won two of his four duels during the game and struggled to create an impression overall.
According to The Sun, the Dutch striker will now be moved out of the firing line for Sunday’s trip to Elland Road. With Martial expected to sit out the game again, Rashford might play centrally, as he did for the final half-hour on Wednesday, when he scored.
“He has incredible focus right now,” Ten Hag said of Rashford this week. He’s in such a zone that he takes it to every game on the field. If he maintains that level of enthusiasm, he will score goals.”
This will also allow Sancho to make his first start for United since October, with the winger looking in excellent form, scoring United’s equalizer at Old Trafford in a promising performance that suggested he was on his way back to form.
“Jadon is getting back, he’s getting his minutes, and he got his goal,” stand-in skipper Bruno Fernandes said of the England international. It will hopefully give him and us a significant boost for the rest of the season since we need everyone to be at their best.”
