Ruben Amorim told he 'can't knock' Man Utd star for 'putting the effort in,' he can still prove his harshest critics wrong

Manchester United legend Gary Pallister has put up a strong defence for one underperforming Red Devils player under Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford this season.

Ruben Amorim’s men are preparing for their upcoming showdown with Real Sociedad in the Europa League on Thursday at the Reale Arena in Spain.

The Red Devils progressed out of the Europa League’s league phase format and Amorim’s side were matched up with the La Liga club in the knockout rounds.

Amorim will be hopeful of Manchester United bouncing back in their crucial first-leg round-of-16 tie in the Europa League against Real Sociedad.

The Europa League is now Amorim’s last hope of lifting major silverware as United manager in his debut season after the Red Devils’ FA Cup exit on the weekend.

Fulham defeated United on penalties at Old Trafford on Sunday and the Red Devils’ FA Cup title defence ended in the fifth round of the competition.

The Europa League is also United’s only realistic route for securing Champions League football for next season, with the Red Devils 14th in the league table.

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Pallister singles out Man Utd star

Ruben Amorim’s woes have extended this season to Manchester United strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee both struggling in the final third.

Rasmus Hojlund has scored only seven times in 35 matches across all competitions, while Joshua Zirkzee has netted five times in 40 fixtures in the current campaign.

Speaking to The Peoples Person, Gary Pallister has claimed that both Hojlund and Zirkzee have struggled to receive the right service at times from United players.

“When there’s a lack of goals, the onus falls on the centre-forward, but they have not had the best service at times,” he said.

Hojlund’s goalscoring drought extended to a run of 18 matches on Sunday after United crashed out of the FA Cup at the hands of Fulham at Old Trafford.

The 22-year-old Danish forward has not scored in 2025 and he last netted for United in the 2-1 comeback win over Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League last December.

United legend Pallister added that Hojlund has still worked hard on the pitch, despite things not clicking for the Red Devils and Denmark striker in the final third.

“You’ve got to be a little cleverer if you want to score goals in this league,” he explained.

“Rasmus is putting the effort in; you can’t knock him for [that]. But it’s just not happening for him.”

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Pallister on Man Utd transfer priority

Amorim is expected to begin a further overhaul of the United first-team squad that he inherited from Erik ten Hag when the summer transfer window opens.

It remains to be seen how much the Red Devils can spend for the 40-year-old former Sporting CP manager amid the club’s struggling financials.

United have been tipped with making a move for a striker at the end of the season, with Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres both heavily linked with United.

Pallister insisted that United must look at making a move for a striker in the summer window after this season’s woes with Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee.

“I think it’s important we go and get a centre-forward,” he said.

“Who is there for the club [to sign] at the moment?”

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