Manchester United summer signing Rasmus Hojlund could be fit to make his debut in Sunday's Premier League trip to Arsenal.
The 20-year-old striker moved to the Red Devils from Atalanta BC for a reported £72m earlier this summer, but he arrived at Old Trafford with a stress fracture in his back sustained during pre-season.
Hojlund has subsequently missed each of United's opening three Premier League games against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest, with Erik ten Hag's side having flattered to deceive despite accumulating six points from a possible nine.
There were hopes that Hojlund could return for last weekend's 3-2 victory over Forest at Old Trafford, but the striker was not named in the matchday squad as Ten Hag's men came from behind to claim all three points courtesy of goals from Christian Eriksen, Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes.
Ten Hag confirmed before the Forest victory that the youngster began team training for the first time last week and he is expected to take part in full training sessions with his teammates this week to build up his fitness.
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Man United have since seemingly been handed a major fitness boost regarding Hojlund as Denmark have announced that the striker has been included in Kasper Hjulmand's 23-man squad for next month's international break.
Denmark manager Hjulmand has revealed that he has "some clear agreements" with Man United over Hojlund's involvement in Euro 2024 qualifiers against San Marino and Finland.
"I have some clear agreements with the club," Hjulmand told reporters on Tuesday as quoted by the Daily Mail. "He [Hojlund] should preferably get some minutes so that we can see that he's there.
"He lacks game time, that's clear, but he's going to play a role [for Denmark], so we'll have to see what he can do."
Man United playmaker Eriksen has also been called up to the international squad along with fellow midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who has recently been linked with a summer move to Old Trafford from Tottenham Hotspur.
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While the potential return of Hojlund to the first-team squad for Sunday's clash with Arsenal would be a huge positive for the Red Devils, Ten Hag is set to be without at least six players including left-back duo Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia who are nursing muscle injuries.
Mason Mount (hamstring), Kobbie Mainoo (ankle), Amad Diallo (knee) and Tom Heaton (calf) are also in the treatment room, while Raphael Varane is doubtful after coming off at half time against Forest with "complaints".
"He had complaints, we didn't want to risk him," Ten Hag said after the game as quoted by the Evening Standard.
"We know we have Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof, good replacements. So we don't take the risk, but what the complaint is and if it is really bad, we don't know. We have to wait."
Man United will be seeking to avoid extending their winless run at the Emirates Stadium to seven matches when they lock horns with Arsenal, who were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Fulham last weekend.
Oliver Thomas
