Rio Ferdinand has named the Man United star who is “under huge pressure” right now

Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand has stood up for Rasmus Hojlund, saying the Danish striker is “under huge pressure” because of his colleagues’ lack of service.

With eight goals in 26 appearances this season, Rasmus Hojlund has come under increasing criticism for his goal scoring performance.

The former Atalanta striker has scored only twice in 16 Premier League appearances and five times in six Champions League appearances.

The Danish attacker moved to Old Trafford last summer when United signed him from Serie A team Atalanta for a cost of £64 million plus an additional £8 million in add-ons.

Only one of United’s 22 shots against Newport County in the FA Cup belonged to the former Atalanta player.

When Rio Ferdinand saw the aforementioned statistic about Hojlund, he was taken aback and declared that the Denmark international is “under huge pressure.”

Speaking on his VIBE with FIVE show, he said: “This is a young kid still who is still finding his way, working out who he is.

“No-one knows who he is yet, what he’s going to be.

“As he is the club’s No 9 now, they’ve got to really make sure they’re directing everything that’s going to get the best out of him.

“He’s under huge pressure, imagine being him with Erling Haaland on the other side, still the top scorer but ain’t played for five weeks, sitting there chilling.

“And never mind the rest of the Premier League, the pressure all lies on the price he [comes] for. Surely, you’ve got to find a way to get the best out of him.”

Ferdinand said that he hopes to see more from United’s other players and that they would give Hojlund more chances to score.

“We keep saying it, it’s a broken record: put the ball in the bloody box!” he added.

“Put the ball in and around him [Hojlund] when you’re in the wide areas. Don’t try and make it too pretty.

“He makes good runs when they’re out wide, I’ve seen enough of him close enough to see he makes good runs. But the people from wide areas have got to be told to put that bloody ball in the box.

“He’s not been allowed to be greedy enough. He’s starved, my man is being starved! He’s dealing with rations at the moment.

“I don’t know why. Are they looking at him and thinking, ‘He’s dry, I can’t play him the ball?’”