Erik ten Hag is considering using Jadon Sancho and Bruno Fernandes as strikers to help solve Manchester United’s attacking issues.
First choice No 9 Rasmus Hojlund will miss the start of the season after suffering a hamstring injury while Joshua Zirkzee, the €42.5million summer signing from Bologna, has only just started training with his new team-mates.
That leaves Ten Hag with a dilemma with the season curtain-raiser against Manchester City in the Community Shield now less than a week away.
United created a number of chances against Liverpool in a pre-season friendly in Columbus, South Carolina on Saturday but failed to take any in a 3-0 defeat.
Put to him that Sancho, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Borussia Dortmund after a public falling out with his manager, could be a solution, Ten Hag said: “That is what we can do if we don’t have the availability of Rasmus.
“Of course, Joshua Zirkzee is coming in. He has started training. But he is not so long in training so it will take time and he has to adjust to English football and our way of playing.
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“Jadon can of course play as a striker. He can also play in wide areas but it could be he is a good option.”
Marcus Rashford is another avenue Ten Hag could look to despite a difficult campaign in front of goal last term while Bruno Fernandes, more of an attacking midfielder, is also being considered.
“I think Marcus has done it before, he can do it and it is definitely an option,” Ten Hag said.
“But I think he is more productive from the left inside, when he is coming inside, so when he can arrive there he is most effective.
“But we also have Bruno Fernandes as a striker as well.”
United kick off their Premier League campaign against Fulham at Old Trafford on August 16.
(Photo: Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
