Ruud Van Nistelrooy acknowledges Manchester United's need for a clinical striker

Manchester, United Kingdom - Manchester United interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy acknowledged the team's need for a top-tier striker but expressed optimism in the potential development of Ramus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee to fill that role in the future.

Only struggling Southampton and Crystal Palace have scored fewer Premier League goals this season than United’s nine in 10 games.

A lack of killer instinct in front of goal played a big part in Erik ten Hag’s dismissal as manager in October.

United have spent more than £100 million (S$170 million) in bringing in Hojlund and Zirkzee over the past two summer transfer windows.

Hojlund has scored twice in 11 games during an injury-hit start to the season, while Zirkzee has only found the net once in 16 matches since joining from Bologna.

By contrast, Van Nistelrooy remains a legend at Old Trafford for his clinical finishing, scoring 150 goals in 219 appearances for the English giants during his playing career.

“I agree that when you want to be a successful side in the Premier League and in Europe, and that’s what the build is all about, you’re going to need a certain amount of goals,” Van Nistelrooy said, ahead of his final game in charge against Leicester on Nov 10.

“That is facts in football and that’s why the best teams in the world have those players.

“At the moment we have players that get a certain amount of goals or assists but they are obviously at an age where they still have to be developed, and there’s the potential that they will be, the belief is there that they can.”