Manchester United forward Rasmus Hojlund is struggling for confidence, so he needed a clinical display away to League One Wigan Athletic to raise his spirits

Manchester United fans believe Wout Weghorst would have scored one of the three huge chances Rasmus Hojlund missed against Wigan Athletic.

Hojlund misses from barely six yard away from the goal

Rasmus Hojlund struggled in front of goal again

Roy Keane did not hold back in his criticism of the Danish youngster

Hojlund was back on the pitch for the first time since he scored the winner in the Red Devils’ dramatic 3-2 home victory over Aston Villa. He missed United’s recent 2-1 away defeat to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League due to illness.

Considering his sharp finish against Unai Emery’s side, the 20-year-old would’ve been confident in filling his goal-scoring boots against the League One team. Unfortunately, his brain freezes in front of goal returned at the DW Stadium.

The January summer signing met a perfect cross from Alejandro Garnacho in the penalty area, but his free header from six yards out flew over the crossbar.

Moments after, Hojlund appeared to be in an unmissable position when Wigan goalkeeper Sam Lloyd Tickle pushed a Marcus Rashford chance into the Dane, but the ball bounced off the forward’s knee and bobbled wide of the goal from three yards.

Speaking at half-time in the ITV studio, United legend Roy Keane was also fuming with the striker.

After former Wigan boss Roberto Martinez tried to sympathise with Hojlund, Keane did not hold back as he said: “You’re too kind. I’d be fuming with him.

“We wanted United to show a side of their game tonight but they have brought their habits from the Premier League into tonight in terms of missing chances and not being clinical.

“I want to see that [attacking] side of United tonight. With your striker, he’s missing chances, you can say unlucky all day.

“They are good opportunities, put the ball in the back of the net. Stop messing about.”

And United fans were lost for words, as well, as react on social media

“Hojlund you have to score that,” one fan said.

“Feel so bad for Hojlund man, so so unlucky. We’ll be at the top soon,” a rather optimistic United fan said, imagining a world where they are winning everything again.

A third United fan thought back to Weghorst, who spent last season on loan at the club. “Hojlund misses another sitter, Weghörst would have scored them,” they said. United chose not to sign Weghorst in the summer, instead choosing to fork out £72m on the former Atalanta youngster, who has scored just one Premier League goal so far this season.

The big Dutchman arrived in the 2023 January transfer window and became a huge part of Ten Hag’s plans. Over the course of 31 appearances for the club, Weghorst scored two goals and contributed three assists.

While the net did not bulge as much as the former Burnley forward would have liked, he endeared himself to fans with his tireless work rate and ability to link up play between the attacking midfielders. Weghorst now plays for Bundesliga side Hoffenheim, where he has already scored four goals in 12 appearances.