Hojlund was poor against Chelsea. (Image: 2025 Manchester United FC)
Rasmus Hojlund would benefit from a spell out of Manchester United's starting team.
But there are no other senior strikers available in the dressing room, which means Hojlund has been starting by default and lumbering up to deliver lifeless performances at centre-forward.
Another of those performances came against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Friday night. Hojlund offered close to nothing in London, and Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero certainly won't be losing any sleep ahead of their tussle with the out-of-form striker in next week's Europa League final.
United fans have reached their breaking point with Hojlund. They have become tired of watching him each week, although Ruben Amorim seemed to take a more positive view on Friday.
When Amorim was asked about Hojlund's display in his press conference, he responded: "I’m happy, of course all the team has to improve, but the way he runs, he fights for every ball, loses a lot of duels, wins some duels, he needs to improve the connection. But he is improving. I’m really happy with him, he just needs to continue working hard and better things will come."
The reaction to Amorim's comments has been interesting, as some supporters believe it wasn't a good look for Amorim to say he is "happy" with Hojlund after such an abysmal showing.
Amorim was stuck between a rock and a hard place with that question, though. He can't hang his player out to dry and be scathing about his performance, although he didn't have to say he was "happy" with him.
The 40-year-old is an impressive communicator and has a strong command of English, so his comments on Hojlund weren't a mishap, despite likely needing to be taken with a pinch of salt.
Amorim cannot be happy with Hojlund because he has scored just four Premier League goals.
Rasmus Hojlund
Hojlund had a night to forget again.
Hojlund has taken huge backwards steps this season and persisting with him against Tottenham might not make sense because he will just produce more of the same at the Estadio de San Mames.
Perhaps the only case in favour of starting Hojlund in the Europa League final is that he performed well against Athletic Bilbao in the semi-final first leg. Amorim suggested Hojlund produced the best display of his tenure in that game, which might be enough for him to keep his starting role.
The argument to drop Hojlund is stronger. United could play with a false nine in the Europa League final and that element of unpredictability would be an advantage against Tottenham.
Mason Mount, Bruno Fernandes, Amad and Kobbie Mainoo are candidates to play in the false nine role.
Erik ten Hag named Hojlund on the bench for last season's FA Cup final and played with a false nine, which proved to be an inspired tactical decision against Manchester City at Wembley.
Hojlund could find himself in the unfortunate position of being dropped for successive finals in successive seasons, which shouldn't happen to a player who was signed in a £72million deal.
Supporters should not entirely give up on Hojlund. He is still only 22 years old and he's been tasked with leading the attack in a struggling team, but you don't need to be a rocket scientist to conclude United grossly overpaid for him.
Amorim has gone from working with Viktor Gyökeres, one of the most prolific goalscorers in Europe, to a striker who has just a handful of goals in the Premier League this season.
He won't admit it in public, but Amorim will be far from "happy" about that.