There were loud boos the first time Rasmus Hojlund was taken off during a Premier League match earlier this season. There were few complaints from Manchester United fans when the same replacement was made at the weekend.

United were already two goals down at home to Brighton when the unpopular decision to bring on Anthony Martial instead was made a month ago, while they were level at Bramall Lane when they needed extra firepower on Saturday night.

In both instances, they needed to freshen things up in attack. In both instances, Erik ten Hag opted for the much-maligned Martial to try and spark his side into life.

It is important not to expect too much of Hojlund during his first season in English football, but at the same time, he won’t be afforded a free pass throughout it just because of his age.

United took a gamble when they spent £64million on his signature in the summer, and while there has been plenty of promise with his clear potential, there will come a time when more is expected from him on the pitch.

The perception of Hojlund would be even better had his first three goals for the club not all come in Champions League defeats, and there will be eyes on him as he looks to grab a first-league goal against Man City on Sunday afternoon. Hojlund played every available second of the three subsequent matches after Ten Hag was booed for replacing him against Brentford, but it was telling that the manager felt it was right to replace him again at the weekend.

It is clear that the Danish international is very much the manager’s man and will be the first-choice for much of the season, though he won’t keep that place unless he delivers the performances to match on the pitch. That is not to say he hasn’t so far, but a key part of keeping Hojlund at the top of his game will be making him well aware that his place in the team isn’t guaranteed just because so much was spent on him in the summer.

“You see, he plays often whole games, but behind us we have to manage his game minutes,” the United manager said after the Sheffield United win.

“Coming up are many games. So we are now in October, but until the end of the season, there are so many games, and we need everyone on board. We need everyone sharp, and to keep them sharp.

“If I saw the programme for the coming weeks, we have to swap during games and between games; otherwise, we don’t keep the energy, we don’t keep the focus in the team, and we don’t get them so fresh for every game.

“Also, we want to do something with subs to bring new energy into the team, and from a tactical approach, we want to do something.”

Ten Hag’s desire for freshness in the forward line is particularly interesting this week, with two important matches on the horizon for very different reasons.

Hojlund is the current top scorer in the Champions League this season and will fancy his chances of adding more to his name against former club FC Copenhagen tomorrow night, but there is even an argument that he should be rested from the start to keep his freshness for the Manchester derby this weekend.

It also presents Ten Hag with a man-management dilemma as he must weigh up whether it is worth sticking with Hojlund through thick and thin as he adjusts to his new surroundings or whether he would actually benefit from being dropped so that he can gradually adjust to the demands on him.

His case is certainly helped by the lack of meaningful competition, with Martial the only other central striking option at the club, though the Frenchman might argue that his solitary goal this season is because he has had such limited game time as a result of Hojlund’s arrival.

What is clear is that while Martial might not have a United future beyond the end of this season, he will likely be required between now and then to help ease the burden on Hojlund and actually help him find his feet during his debut campaign.

Hojlund is still the player better suited to starting tomorrow night, but if freshness really is an issue, then it might make more sense to save him for Sunday instead