Manchester United's manager Erik Ten Hag has hinted at why he keeps picking Burnley loanee Wout Weghorst in his starting lineup despite the striker not scoring enough goals as expected.
The January signing, who arrived as a temporary solution to Manchester United's striker's issues and as a back-up for fitness-struggling Anthony Martial, hasn't met expectations as he has registered just two goals plus three assists in 15 games.
He recently scored during Manchester United's Europa League clash with Real Betis at Old Trafford and was overcome with emotions as he celebrated wildly. He has been equally criticized by pundits for his low goal scoring rate, but Erik Ten Hag sees other importance of the 30-year-old on the pitch beyond finding the back of the net.
Manchester United's manager claimed that the Dutchman's hectic work schedule on the pitch is one of the key attributes that makes him keep selecting the Burnley loanee before admitting further that Anthony Martial's absence is also another reason.
"Yeah, because he is capable. He is physically capable of playing a lot of games." He is a very fit player, and he recovers very well. Did I expect it? "I expected that he would play a lot, but obviously we have an injury with Anthony Martial," Erik Ten Hag explained during his press conference on Friday.
"So it's obvious that's the main reason why he's playing every game from the start to almost the finish." "[Against] Barcelona, I think I took him off, but many other games he played, and I think he's doing well as the striker or as the no. 10 in the midfield, and he's also bringing good performances."
When asked by the club's media if the tall attacker has excelled at his number 10 role, Erik Ten Hag replied, "I think he has intelligence from positions; he is a very good anticipator."
"I tell him to, of course, [help] link up there, which he is also doing as a high striker. But in that position, he is linking up and getting in front of the goal when crosses are coming in. "And for the rest, there is also the defending part, which he is very good at," he added.
The media indicated that the fans were delighted with the 30-year-old after he finally scored at Old Trafford on Thursday night, ending his 11-game goal drought. In Erik Ten Hag's opinion, it would boost the striker's confidence.
"I think, as you see, he is often in the right position, then he fails," he explained.
"But he keeps going. So, he showed great personality and character, so not only in this game but also in this game, he could have already [got] his goal early on, but he keeps focused, he keeps working, and he keeps putting himself in the right positions. "And, finally, he got his goal and his reward."
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