Ralf Rangnick has warned Manchester United that they will be coming up against Burnley 's answer to Ian Rush when they visit Turf Moor on Tuesday.
Liverpool legend Rush was a feared foe for the Red Devils throughout the 1980s and 90s, and now Rangnick says his team of 2022 must prepare for his Clarets reincarnation: Wout Weghorst.
Burnley signed Weghorst to replace striker Chris Wood in the January transfer window, shelling out £12million on the Dutchman, who had been a fine marksman for German side Wolfsburg since arriving in 2018.
Given Weghorst's prowess in the Bundesliga, Rangnick knows all about him and the United interim manager has likened the 6ft 6in colossus to Rush ahead of their Premier League clash on Tuesday.
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"He looks with his size, a little bit like Ian Rush, for example, but he's a very technical player," Rangnick told his club's website. "Due to his size, he is also physically present but he’s not that much of a physical target striker.
"He is more of a technical player. Also, he had good times at Wolfsburg when Oliver Glasner was head coach, he did extremely well and scored quite a few goals.
"Hopefully, [on Tuesday], he won't score. He played against Watford and I obviously watched that game on TV. I thought he was a good signing and one of the best possible signings to replace Wood."
Weghorst was considered a coup for the Clarets, who were forced to sell star Wood for £25million when relegation rivals Newcastle triggered his release clause.
From the beginning of the 2018-19 campaign, the Netherlands international was only outscored by Robert Lewandowski in the German top flight - 59 to Lewandowski's incredible 120.
Weghorst's 20 goals and eight assists in the Bundesliga last season helped Glasner and co secure a top-four finish and return to the Champions League.
And even with Wolfsburg struggling this term, the ex- AZ Alkmaar hotshot still managed six of their 17 league goals prior to departing.
Although Weghorst blanked on his debut, a drizzly 0-0 draw at home to fellow strugglers Watford, Burnley boss Sean Dyche was impressed with his new signing's first outing.
"I think Wout did really well. It's not easy to come into a group, he's accepted what the group are about," Dyche said post-match.
"He'll give us hold up play, he'll give us quality and as he gets used to the tempo of the Premier League, when he gets his eye in, I think he'll do well."
The Clarets manager added: "He's had a quiet game by his standards but we didn't expect miracles from him. He will get that sharpness.
"We know how much of a good player he is."
