Rasmus Hojlund, a Manchester United striker, is sidelined due to injury for an estimated ‘two to three weeks’ and is likely to miss the upcoming derby against City.

Rasmus Hojlund, the talented striker for Manchester United, will unfortunately be absent from the upcoming Manchester derby due to an injury that will keep him out of action for up to three weeks.

The Danish international has been in exceptional form recently, netting an impressive seven goals in just six Premier League matches since Boxing Day.

In an official statement released by the club, it was confirmed that Hojlund will miss the Premier League clash against Fulham on Saturday due to a muscle injury. The estimated recovery time for the striker is two to three weeks. This means that he will also be unavailable for the FA Cup fifth round match against Nottingham Forest and the crucial encounter against title contenders City on March 3.

Depending on the speed of his recovery, Hojlund may also be at risk of missing league games against Everton and Sheffield United. This setback is a major blow for the 21-year-old, who had finally found his scoring touch after a long goal drought in the Premier League. Since his debut season at Old Trafford following his move from Atalanta last summer, Hojlund has made a significant impact, contributing not only goals but also two assists.

With Anthony Martial also sidelined with an injury, Marcus Rashford, who is typically deployed on the left flank, may be called upon to fill in as a center-forward in Hojlund’s absence.

The injury couldn’t have come at a worse time for United, as they are currently striving to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League and qualify for the UEFA Champions League. Erik ten Hag’s side currently sits sixth in the standings, trailing fourth-placed Villa by five points.

Their rivals, Manchester City, are in second place with a comfortable 12-point lead, making the upcoming Manchester derby a crucial fixture. The first encounter between the two teams ended in a convincing 3-0 victory for Pep Guardiola’s side at Old Trafford back in October.

United will undoubtedly miss Hojlund’s goal-scoring prowess as they aim to close the gap and secure a vital victory in their pursuit of Champions League qualification.