‘This lad is the real deal’ – Peter Schmeichel waxes lyrical over Manchester United prodigy

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel believes Rasmus Hojlund is a rare talent.

The 21-year-old scored for a fifth straight game against Aston Villa in Sunday’s 2-1 win at Villa Park.

Hojlund was found with acres of space by a Harry Maguire header inside the box. He made no mistake when putting the ball into the back of the net. It was a proper striker’s finish and something this team lacked prior to his arrival this season.

We won’t forget the pressure that Hojlund was under after he failed to score a goal in his first 12 Premier League matches. Now he’s got five in five.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Schmeichel has explained that he was never in any doubt about Hojlund’s ability after watching him play back in Copenhagen.

“It was only two-and-a-half years ago that he was in the Copenhagen squad,” Schmeichel said.

“(Copenhagen) signed another striker and they told him to go back to the Under 19s. Sturm Graz came in for him and said ‘we’ve got to give you first team football’. He took it. And the first seven months there, nine months at Atalanta after, and now he’s at Manchester United.

“It’s gone really, really quick for him. But at no point have I been in any doubt that this lad is the real deal. He’s got everything in his locker. He poaches goals, his movement.

“I’ve seen this for a year now since he broke into the Danish team. You know when you see something which is very, very special that doesn’t come along very often? That’s what I’ve seen in him.”

The narrative is changing around Hojlund and I couldn’t be more happy about it.

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