Rasmus Højlund’s promising start to Manchester United’s pre-season tour was abruptly halted during their 2-1 loss to Arsenal at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The Danish striker, who had given United the lead with a deft finish in the 10th minute, was forced to exit the match in the 13th minute due to what appeared to be a muscle injury. Højlund left the field unaided but walked steadily through the mixed zone following the game.

The injury woes didn’t stop there; new recruit Leny Yoro also suffered a setback. The 18-year-old center-back, clearly disheartened, was substituted in the 34th minute by Rhys Bennett and was the first to emerge from the dressing room after the match.

Ahead of the match, United manager Erik ten Hag had warned about the likelihood of injury issues, reflecting on a challenging season where the squad endured 66 separate injury or illness-related absences. “It’s clear that the situation is concerning,” Ten Hag admitted. “We’ll need to wait more than 24 hours to get a clearer picture. We took extra precautions with Leny, as he participated in only half of the training sessions. Let’s remain optimistic and see what the outcomes are.”

Despite the setbacks, Ten Hag took solace in Højlund’s early goal. “It was a brilliant start,” he said. “Marcus Rashford delivered an excellent pass, and Højlund executed a superb move and finish. I was pleased with his contribution. We created more chances and had a goal ruled out for offside. Højlund’s presence is a real asset; he’s a formidable threat to defenses and has exceptional scoring talent.”