Szeszko might only be sidelined for two weeks, but Amolin has already lost trust! Revealing whether Manchester United can recall Hojlund

Manchester United invested €85 million this summer to acquire Szeszko, the 22-year-old Slovenian forward and their priciest addition. Yet, up to now, he has underperformed the most. In the Premier League clash with Spurs, the Red Devils’ attack diminished after his appearance, and an unexpected left knee injury cut his play short, further damaging the squad.

Ruben Amolin decided to start Szeszko on the bench, while Mbemo, Cunha, and Amad Diallo formed a strong attacking line, whose cooperation led to the first goal. Notably, Mbemo played left winger for the first time; the Cameroonian, recently named Premier League Player of the Month for October, took charge of organizing on the left flank, covering for left wing-back Patrick Dogu’s weaknesses.

Amad frequently dropped back to midfield on the right to help organize play. United’s formation resembled a 3-5-2 rather than the 3-4-3 that the coach couldn’t persuade Amolin to change. His crosses assisted Mbemo’s goal, which was the latter’s sixth of the season, the highest tally in the team.

In contrast, Szeszko has scored only 2 goals in 12 matches. Amolin often benches him in crucial games, including the away match at Anfield against Liverpool, which was not surprising. Szeszko joined United just a week before the season started and was unused in the first round against Arsenal. He only made his starting debut in September; in 11 Premier League rounds, Amolin has benched him 5 times, with the team recording 2 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss in those matches.

During the match against Tottenham, the home side increased intensity in the second half, forcing United goalkeeper Sena Ramens to make two spectacular saves. Amolin brought on Szeszko to try and improve the attack, hoping to use his hold-up play to control the game’s tempo. Szeszko’s size helps in aerial duels. Substitute Diogo Dalot also signaled teammates to slow down the pace to cope with Tottenham’s pressure.

However, Szeszko failed to meet expectations. He missed a scoring chance due to his slow pace and injured himself in the process. After he left the field, Richarlison scored the go-ahead goal for Tottenham. This echoed Amolin’s pre-match comments that Szeszko struggles significantly in the Premier League.

Amolin’s other forward option is Zirkzee, but the Manchester United coach’s trust in him is even lower. Since April this year, the 24-year-old Dutch striker has not started for United again; his only role at Tottenham’s stadium was to pick up bottles on the sidelines.

After the match, the injured Szeszko limped off the pitch. There are rumors that his knee injury could sideline him for five matches. Ahead of the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Kosovo and Sweden, the Slovenian national team is likely to release an update on his condition within days.

Some injury experts believe Szeszko may have only suffered a knee sprain caused by overstress or sudden strain, without ligament damage. If that’s the case, recovery might take less than two weeks, possibly even within one week.

Physio Scout, specializing in football injuries, analyzed: "This injury is not severe. Although the exact cause is unclear, based on the injury’s nature and physical palpation results, it’s more likely due to excessive strain or overload on the knee rather than ligament damage."

Regardless of the injury’s severity, Szeszko may have to spend more time on Manchester United’s bench and work hard to adapt faster to the new environment. British media have already speculated that due to Szeszko’s adjustment difficulties and Zirkzee’s goal drought, the club is considering entering the January transfer market to find a new striker reinforcement.

The Manchester Evening News reminds fans that Hojlund is still a Manchester United player, only loaned out to Napoli. In Italy, the 22-year-old has scored 4 goals in 9 appearances.

However, Fabrizio Romano reports that the loan agreement includes a clause forcing Napoli to buy the player outright if they qualify for the Champions League, meaning Manchester United cannot recall Hojlund early in January, nor can Napoli return him mid-season.

The only way for "The Freight Train" to return to Manchester United is if Napoli fails to qualify for next season’s Champions League and decides not to exercise the buy option after this season. If Amolin wants to strengthen the forward line, he must look to the transfer market or promote youth players.