Wout Weghorst has admitted he has been able to make the most of his shock move to Manchester United because fellow striker Antony Martial is “injury-prone.”
The Dutchman has started all 18 games since Erik ten Hag was able to seal a deal to cut short the loan he had agreed with Turkish club Besiktas following Burnley ’s relegation from the Premier League last year.
Weghorst was under no illusions about the task he faced to get regular football in United’s team. But Martial’s inability to keep himself fully fit has meant the 6ft 6ins forward has become Ten Hag’s go-to guy.
Weghorst said: “All Ten Hag said was that he needed a striker who could fit into his way of playing. He certainly did not paint the picture as it is now. Anthony Martial was his striker and he was doing fine - but he is injury-prone and the manager wanted all positions double-staffed.
“That's what I came for. But Ten Hag did say clearly ‘It is up to you. You can force things and the best one plays.’ My dream has always been to get the most out of my career. To tap my ceiling. It makes me incredibly proud and happy.”
While Martial’s ongoing fitness issues have put his United future in doubt, Weghorst prides himself on his physical and mental condition. He is obsessive about nutrition and has been training so hard that he is much lighter than he was during his time in Turkey.
Weghorst said: “My physique is like a house and has been all through my career. But I have never had an injury and never even had to miss a single match. It’s bizarre, really. What I always say: a lot is also determined in the head. At this level, you can no longer start every game fully recovered. So it also requires a lot of mental strength and mental resilience.”
Weghorst has shown his flexibility by often dropping into a No 10 role behind Marcus Rashford as Ten Hag has looked to make the most of his tireless work ethic. The Holland international hasn’t always made friends throughout his career with his obsessive desire to get to the top.
But it was one of the reasons why Ten Hag felt he could be a success at Old Trafford. Weghorst said: “The manager told me at half-time in the away game at Fulham that he was considering the option of playing me as a 10, behind Rashford.
“He told me just to take his plan into account because Ten Hag is a manager who places a lot of value on task-conscious play. The manager then told me I had to do my share of defensive work in the role. I am a team player, so I replied 'That's no problem at all, boss’.”
But the Dutchman admits his lack of goals is a concern. He has scored just twice for United since his arrival in January and added: “Sometimes I think I am doing really well - but then I remember I am still only on two goals.
“That's also how everyone looks at football. I try to teach my children to look at other aspects than just goals - and that works for me as well.
“I prefer to look at what is positive. When I scored my first goal at Nottingham Forest I said in an interview I can't wait for my first goal in a home game in front of our fans. That took another few games, but it was a big moment for me.
“You only experience how big United is when you are part of it. This is an absolute top club, with all the attention from the outside. You have to find a way to deal with it, but I manage to be myself even in this environment.”
