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Man Utd talking points and highlights as they defeated Leicester in the Premier League on Sunday night.
From Heaven to Hell
Ruben Amorim warned Ayden Heaven he would face more scrutiny once he started matches in the Premier League; he responded to the latest challenge with the same calmness we have come to expect during his brief Manchester United breakthrough.
Once again, the 18-year-old looked right at home in the United backline with another impressive performance that saw him combine excellent technical ability on the ball with the maturity required to handle such a big occasion. He was confident in possession, not only with his passing but also his dribbling, and showcased some steel to battle Patson Daka and deny Leicester a fine scoring chance.
He was brilliant before his horrible injury at the start of the second-half, but the performance before that proved he has a role to play when he is fit again. United will hope the setback is not as serious as it first looked and regardless of the outcome, there is a place waiting for him in the squad upon his eventual return.
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The big Hojlund problem isn’t Hojlund
If you are looking for a little Monday morning motivation, Newcastle have won a major trophy, and Rasmus Hojlund has scored a goal for Manchester United. Anything is possible. Hojlund had to wait 22 hours and 12 minutes to find the back of the net again after his brace against Viktoria Plzen in early December but finished like a seasoned striker with his ferocious effort against Leicester.
Anyone who has watched the Dane in recent weeks would have seen signs of improvement in his game, but he has suffered from a lack of service and a severe lack of confidence. Add the intense scrutiny of leading the line for United and the wider struggles of the rest of the team, and it was always going to be a recipe for disaster.
United will hope the floodgates are now open for a striker who enjoyed two purple patches during his debut campaign, and it is worth noting that his first goal in 21 matches came from only his 21st shot during that barren run. How he took his goal suggests it’s a problem of service more than anything, though the caveat is that he did so against one of the weaker sides in the division.
Manchester United staff reaction showed what they think of Rasmus Hojlund
A lot has happened since Rasmus Hojlund last scored for Manchester United, but he has not forgotten how to celebrate a goal. The Danish striker produced his now customary Gladiator celebration, which he hopes to replicate plenty of times between now and the end of the season.
It is hard to control emotions in the heat of such a moment, and some members of the United staff were not so composed when the ball finally hit the back of the net again. Those visible from the Leicester press box were sent into wild jubilation with ferocious fist bumps towards the forward, a pure, unfiltered release of raw emotion.
They work with these players daily and see first-hand just how much it hurts them when results don’t go well, and they will have been well aware of the huge pressure Hojlund was under to deliver. There is an acceptance another striker is needed in the summer, though they clearly have a lot of support for the striker still.
Mason Mount returns to the squad
Mason Mount was back in the Manchester United squad for the first time in over three months but he did not make it onto the pitch at the King Power Stadium. He stayed out for an extra few minutes after the pre-match warm-up had finished to work on his passing, clearly eager to soak up every second he could of a matchday return.
Ruben Amorim did not want to take the unnecessary risk of throwing him back into action when the match was already won and he will instead use the international break to build up his fitness ahead of a possible return against Nottingham Forest.
Amorim does not use hyperbole when he speaks of his ‘love’ for Mount, and there is a genuine belief he could form a key part of the United side under him in the years ahead. Given the importance of attacking midfielders in their tactical approach, as well as Amorim’s demands for a high press, that love could be about to grow.
Debut delight
Manchester United fans have had to wait a while to get a glimpse of Harry Amass, and they finally got their wish when the birthday boy made his debut from the bench against Leicester. The 18-year-old didn't look out of place at left wing-back at the King Power Stadium and became the 253rd academy graduate to make a competitive appearance for the men's first team.
With wing-back Patrick Dorgu set to return to action after the international break, Amass might not have many more opportunities to come between now and the end of the season, but he has finally made the significant step into the senior limelight that he has waited so long to get.
Having seen what Ayden Heaven can offer at the same age, the temptation to give Amass a proper chance in the first-team has never been stronger.
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