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'I am sure' - Rasmus Hojlund outlines the advantage of Manchester United's fixture schedule

Rasmus Hojlund celebrates by giving the thumbs up after scoring against Nottingham Forest.

Rasmus Hojlund was on target in the defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund believes the nature of December's hectic fixture schedule can help him and his teammates in their quest to overcome setbacks.

United suffered their second successive Premier League defeat on Saturday evening, losing 3-2 to Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford.

Quick-fire second half goals from Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood, who both took advantage of some shocking goalkeeping and defending, took the game away from United, who had earlier come from behind to draw level through Hojlund's fifth goal of the season.

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United gave themselves hope of rescuing something from the contest when Bruno Fernandes finished with aplomb just past the hour mark, but a comeback failed to materialise, leaving the Reds 13th in the table.

United's next Premier League outing is a trip to the Etihad Stadium to face neighbours Manchester City next Sunday. However, before head coach Ruben Amorim can focus on that, United must travel to the Czech Republic in midweek for a Europa League clash against Viktoria Plzen.

The fixtures are continuing to come thick and fast for United, minimising time that can be spent on the Carrington training pitches, but Hojlund believes a jam-packed schedule is beneficial when attempting to overcome setbacks.

"I think so," Hojlund told MUTV if having the opportunity to bounce back from a defeat quickly is helpful. "We have to put it right on Thursday and prove to the fans and to ourselves that we need to do better, and I am sure we will."

Hojlund notched his second Premier League goal of the season against Forest, finding himself in the right place at the right time to tap home. Despite getting himself back on the scoresheet, the result took the gloss of that personal highlight.

The Dane added: "It is my job to be in these positions. But again, I am not really thinking about that.

"I am quite devastated because I know we need the points. Then again, we play again in three or four days and we need to prepare for that, and then we have the derby next week."

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