Rasmus Hojlund may find it difficult to get the better of Denmark teammate Joachim Andersen in Manchester United’s clash with Crystal Palace, according to Paul Parker. Hojlund is awaiting his first Premier League goal, but his frustrations could continue if he can’t conquer the challenge of facing a friend on Saturday.
Palace travel to Old Trafford for the second time in five days after suffering a heavy defeat in the Carabao Cup third round on Tuesday.
Alejandro Garnacho, Casemiro and Anthony Martial scored as United ran riot in a 3-0 win over Roy Hodgson’s side in M16.
Hojlund was used as a 75th-minute substitute, but Andersen watched from the bench as both managers took the opportunity to rotate.
The 20-year-old striker and his fellow Dane will start for either team this weekend, though, and ex-United defender Parker believes it could be the battle of the match.
But he has concerns over whether Hojlund will come out on top, given the difficulties that sometimes arise when friends face off.
“There will be a very important duel going on between the two Danish friends, Joachim Andersen and Rasmus Hojlund,” Parker told SpilXperten.
“Andersen loves a challenge. Everyone knows that. I like him a lot because he is very old-fashioned in the way he plays.
“He is very aggressive and very clever. He likes to wind people up. I don’t know if he is going to wind up his mate.
“I hope Hojlund will go out and prove a point, but sometimes it’s very difficult to play against a very good friend, so I don’t hope they are friends as such.”
Hojlund has scored just once in his first five United appearances, albeit only three were starts against Brighton and Hove Albion, Bayern Munich and Burnley.
Ten Hag made him the most expensive striker in the club’s history this summer, sealing a £72million deal with Atalanta, beating competition from Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur.
And Parker hopes he will come good in M16, touting Hojlund as the ‘future’ of Ten Hag’s United rebuild.
He added: “But I hope he will do well. A lot of people are still questioning him because of the fee Man United paid for him.
“But you got to have an understanding of his age. I can see that some people say that Man United should have kept Ronaldo, but obviously, I don’t agree with that. Rasmus Hojlund is the future of this club.”
