Manchester United Striker Ruled Out for Manchester Derby Due to Injury

Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund will miss next weekend’s Manchester derby after he was ruled out for up to three weeks through injury. The Denmark international has been in sensational form of late, scoring seven goals in six Premier League games since Boxing Day. Hojlund will miss Manchester United’s Premier League game against Fulham on Saturday due to a muscle injury. It is expected to keep him out for two to three weeks. This means he will also be unavailable for the FA Cup fifth round match against Nottingham Forest and the clash against title-challenging rivals City on March 3. Depending on his recovery, he may also miss league games against Everton and Sheffield United. With Anthony Martial also injured, Marcus Rashford may be asked to fill in as a centre-forward in Hojlund’s absence. Hojlund's injury is a setback after finding his form and scoring his first Premier League goal in December. Manchester United will need their top scorer as they aim to secure a top-four finish and qualify for the UEFA Champions League. They currently sit sixth in the standings, five points behind fourth-placed Villa. Their rivals City are in second place with a 12-point advantage. The first Manchester derby of the season ended in a 3-0 win for City.