RASMUS HOJLUND will never be a Premier League great like Sergio Aguero, claims Gary Neville.
But the former Manchester United star-turned-pundit reckons that the Dane could "become an Ollie Watkins" for the Red Devils.
Hojlund, 21, arrived at Old Trafford from Atalanta last summer with a hefty £72million price-tag.
He has since been tasked with being United's main No9, with Anthony Martial having spent much of the campaign injured.
The forward failed to score in his first 14 Premier League matches, before a hot streak that saw him bag seven in six.
His progress was thwarted by a muscular injury, and since his return he has only scored once in eight games.
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After seeing Hojlund struggle to impose his will against Arsenal during his side's 1-0 defeat on Sunday, Neville had his say on the front-man.
Appearing on Sky Sports, the 49-year-old said: "I think this is a kid that needs persevering with. I looked at Ollie Watkins before.
"He's not going to become a Haaland or an Aguero, one of the great strikers in Premier League history, I don't think.
"But he can become an Ollie Watkins. You can look at someone like that, I think I can get to 20 goals."
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Aguero, now 35, scored 260 goals in 390 appearances for Manchester City - winning five Prem titles, an FA Cup and six League Cups in the process.
Watkins, meanwhile, has scored 19 goals and assisted a further 13 this season - with the 28-year-old having 59 in 145 top flight appearances in total.
Last week Erik ten Hag, 54, admitted that he wanted to sign Harry Kane, only to end up with Hojlund.
He then told Neville of the difference between the two: "With Harry Kane you know you get 30 goals. I think Rasmus will get there but he needs time."
Comparing Hojlund to Kane last night, Neville added: "I wish he was the second striker this season. I wish he was learning, I did the interview with Erik ten Hag last week. He mentioned Harry Kane.
"If he was learning off Kane now or playing with Kane, I think you'd see a completely different player."
Neville then pointed to Hojlund's youth, before making two interesting comparisons.
He continued: "Secondly, he's 21 years of age. He's a little bit scruffy in his work is his first season in the Premier League, and he reminds me a little bit of Darwin Nunez. He reminds me a little bit of Nicolas Jackson.
"When you look at them, they're projects. Manchester United, this moment in time is their only striker. Manchester United is the only striker in the club. Forget Anthony Martial. He's not been there for years.
"If you look at Nunez and if you look at Hojlund, the really interesting thing for me is that that shot conversion is up 22 per cent so when he actually gets chances, he's actually better than Jackson and Nunez.
"Now you might say, okay, but I think that's something really to work with. The expected goals at the bottom, he's only expected to score 7.4 goals.
"The service in delivery into him is poor you look at Nunez and Jackson, Jackson, they're at 16.3 and 17, double."
SunSport's verdict on Man Utd flops
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos have a busy summer ahead to get Man Utd's squad in order for next season. Below SunSport gives it verdict on how they should deal with the Red Devils flops this summer.
Andre Onana - STAY: After a dodgy start at Old Trafford Onana has proven to be one of the more reliable members of the squad this season despite being peppered with shots constantly.
Altay Bayindir - GO: Reports in February suggested Bayindir was unhappy with his bit part role at Man Utd amid interest from Turkish giants Galatasaray. If profit can be made on a sale then it should be done.
Tom Heaton - STAY: Veteran goalkeeper Heaton, 38, is a reliable back-up and is on a relatively small wage at the club. So long as he is happy it makes sense to keep him.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka - GO: Wan-Bissaka, 26, has never managed to make the right-back position his own. With his contract up in 2025 it makes sense to cash in now.
Diogo Dalot - STAY: Dalot, 26, has been one of Man Utd's most consistent performers this season.
Raphael Varane - GO: If it wasn't for his injury record there would be a strong shout to keep Varane, but costs need to be cut to allow the squad to be freshened up.
Harry Maguire - GO: Maguire has showed he has the right character to be at Man Utd but overall ability and desired profile are another matter, with Maguire too slow to play in a high line defence.
Lisandro Martinez - STAY: Martinez, 26, is second to none in terms of build up play. He needs a long-term defensive partner on the right side and to cut out the injuries which have plagued him this season.
Jonny Evans - GO: Veteran campaigner Evans could easily be on the stay list if he was only going to be a bit part player. But he has shown his advanced years at times this season.
Victor Lindelof - GO: Lindelof, 29, has been reliable if not unremarkable in his Man Utd career. He has one year left on his contract so should be moved on if a decent transfer fee can be got for him.
Willy Kambwala - STAY: He should be given the opportunity to mature for a few years behind a senior CB pairing before stepping into the first team as a starter or being moved on.
Luke Shaw - GO: One of the Premier League's best left-backs when fit, Shaw has been a good servant when available. But alas that has been his Achilles heel once again this season.
Tyrell Malacia - STAY: Malacia, 24, was decent enough to earn some merit in his first season at Man Utd before injury ended his season and inadvertently led to his second season being a write off.
Sofyan Amrabat - GO: Amrabat, 27, looked like a world beater at the Qatar World Cup with Morocco. But he's had an underwhelming season in England and his loan spell will almost certainly not be made permanent.
Casemiro - GO: An alarming physical decline has seen him turn from key star to burden. If a club is willing to buy the 32-year-old - who has two more years on his contract - then United should snatch their hand off.
Christian Eriksen - GO: Eriksen proved a useful asset and Ineos should look to bring in another player with similar traits, but frankly his legs have looked gone towards the end of this season.
Kobbie Mainoo - STAY: The first of the so-called untouchables, Mainoo has been a rare glimmer of hope in the Red Devils midfield this season.
Mason Mount - STAY: Mount can be given the benefit of the doubt until summer 2025 at least after a debut season riddled with injury.
Scott McTominay - STAY: McTominay, 27, has proven himself to be a brilliant plan B off the bench this season, and that is exactly why Ineos should look to keep him.
Bruno Fernandes - STAY: Man Utd's best player since his arrival just over four years ago, Fernandes, 29, remains second-to-none when it comes to creating chances while his tenacity boosts those around him.
Antony - GO: There's a case to argue that Antony may be the worst pound-for-pound signing in Premier League history. Despite some memorable moments he simply isn't Man Utd quality.
Anthony Martial - GO: Ultimately Martial needs to be let go when his deal runs out this summer after an appalling injury record of late.
Marcus Rashford - STAY: As easy as it would be to say Rashford should leave the club this summer, it is difficult to look at the market and find many available players capable of scoring 30 goals a season.
Alejandro Garnacho - STAY: Another third of the untouchables trio, Garnacho has made the right-wing his own since coming into it. He's a raw talent but has shown he has the quality to improve.
Rasmus Hojlund - STAY: A slow burner in his first Man Utd season, the 21-year-old has often been starved of supply which has led to him being unable to get the goals his movement and unselfish play often merits.
Amad Diallo - STAY: In the fleeting moments he has been on the pitch for Man Utd this season, Diallo has looked dangerous and exciting. He should be given a chance to flourish with some proper chances in the first team across a whole season.
Neville's fellow pundit Jamie Carragher was a little harsher on Hojlund.
He asked: "Is that good enough?
"Is that good enough for Manchester United? I mean, I feel sorry for Hojlund a little bit, but I do look at it and think, what is, what's his trick? What does he do?
"I know he's young, and I actually think he's been brought in maybe a couple of years too soon."
Hojlund has scored eight goals in 28 Premier League appearances thus far during his debut campaign in England.
He did perform well in the Champions League, netting five times in United's six group games.
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The 6ft 3in front-man will hope to add to his tally before the end of the season, with United welcoming Newcastle on Wednesday night before rounding off their Prem campaign with a trip to Brighton on Sunday.
He will then hope to become a Wembley hero, when United take on Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
Man Utd fans behind the team? I'm not so sure...
By Dave Kidd
THERE was much praise for the Manchester United away fans when they sang their hearts out until the end of the 4-0 humping by Crystal Palace.
Not least from Erik ten Hag, who claims their singing is an indication that supporters back him and his mid-table squad.
And on Sunday, United’s supporters were in good voice again — before the match in the Bishop Blaize pub, during the match on the Stretford End and after it on Manchester’s sweatbox trams during an almighty monsoon.
They sang songs about George Best, Eric Cantona, Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Park Ji-sung, Jaap Stam, Nemanja Vidic and — as Arsenal were in town — Robin van Persie, too.
But there wasn’t a single song about any current player.
And there were also self-deprecating renditions of ‘we’re f***ing s**t!’
Not quite the ringing endorsements that Ten Hag thought he’d heard.