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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Peter Fitzpatrick

Ruud van Nistelrooy identifies clear need for Manchester United improvement ahead of Ruben Amorim arrival

Ruud van Nistelrooy has said he believes in Manchester United’s young forwards, but agrees that the club need more goals if they are to become successful once again.

United have scored the third fewest goals in the Premier League this season, with only Southampton and Crystal Palace having a lower total than their nine after 10 games.

Alejandro Garnacho is their top scorer with just two goals, with strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee only scoring a single goal each, albeit they have been in and out of the side and Erik ten Hag’s tactics were highly questionable.

Van Nistelrooy, who scored 150 goals in a prolific five-year spell at Old Trafford as a player, has backed his frontline to fulfil their potential.

He said: “I agree that when you want to be a successful side in the Premier League and in Europe, which is what the build is all about, you need a certain amount of goals. That is clear. That is why the best teams in the world have those players.

Joshua Zirkzee has struggled since arriving in Manchester (Getty Images)

“At the moment, we have players who get a certain amount of goals and assists but they are in an age where they still need to be developed. There is potential they will be and the belief is there they can. That's where we are at this moment.”

The clash with Leicester will be the van Nistelrooy’s final game in interim charge before Ruben Amorim takes over, and the Dutchman touched on his three games to date, and his feelings ahead of Sunday.

He said: "Especially for the club, it was very important after I took over to get what I call stabilising the ship with results. All of a sudden we're three games into that, it passes so quickly, and the last one will mean a lot."

I don't know if it will be emotional, I'm pragmatic as well, although proud to fulfil this. We'll see how I feel on Sunday and other than that, there's not much news. Ruben (Amorim) and I are focussing on our teams and on our games."

Van Nistelrooy will be hoping to make it four games unbeaten, and provide Amorim with a perfect welcome gift, against the Foxes.

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