)
Former Manchester United striker Andy Cole has set a target of 25 goals for the club's star striker this season.
Manchester United legend Andy Cole has challenged the club's strikers to hit the ground running this season and provide the goals.
Manager Erik ten Hag will be banking on Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee to fire the club to success and Cole believes they can do it.
Manchester United suffer double injury blow ahead of new Premier League season
Andy Cole challenges Hojlund, Zirkzee to score 25 goals
Speaking to Betfred, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News, Cole said:
)
)
)
"Against Arsenal in pre-season, Rasmus looked fit and strong coming back from the Euros and those are his assets anyway because he's a physical, old-fashioned centre-forward.
"I spoke to him briefly and he's looking forward to the new season. There's no doubt that he just wants to go out there and score as many goals as possible.
"Manchester United for a while haven't had a striker that has scored 25 goals in a season, so it has to be one of Rasmus or Zirkzee or the pair of them could hopefully get 15 goals each and then you have others chipping in around them."
Cole's expectation that Hojlund or Zirkzee could score 25 goals in a season may be a tall order, given their past performances. Hojlund scored 10 league goals last season, while Zirkzee scored 11 goals in all competitions for Bologna.
A leap to 25 goals would be a significant increase, and even Cole's suggestion of 15 goals each from the pair seems ambitious. Nevertheless, Hojlund showed flashes of brilliance last season and there's no denying his talent.
It is now time for him and Zirkzee to justify the investment and faith placed in their abilities.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)