Louis Saha hails Man United's 'clever' business as star seen arriving at Carrington

Ruud van Nistelrooy has now returned to Manchester United as part of Erik ten Hag's coaching staff, and former Red Devils ace Louis Saha has offered his verdict on the appointment

Louis Saha reckons Erik ten Hag's decision to make Ruud van Nistelrooy a part of his coaching team was a "smart" one.

Van Nistelrooy, who netted 150 goals during his time in the Premier League, has returned to Old Trafford to assist his fellow Dutchman. His arrival at Carrington on Monday was met with delight from the fans who will hoping the former striker can fix United's goalscoring problems.

Despite lifting the FA Cup, Ten Hag's men looked a shadow of the Red Devils of old last season, finishing eighth in the Premier League. A lack of goals was a significant factor, with United's tally of 57 equalling that of Crystal Palace and only one more than Brentford, who finished 16th.

ALSO READ: I was Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant and know Ruud van Nistelrooy but Man Utd return surprises me

ALSO READ: Man United transfer news recap Jarrad Branthwaite 'talks', Leny Yoro latest and Joshua Zirkzee hint

Former United star Saha is confident that Van Nistelrooy's addition to the coaching staff can boost the team's goalscoring capabilities, highlighting Rasmus Hojlund as a player who could particularly benefit from the former sharpshooter's guidance.

In five years at United, Van Nistelrooy made more than 200 appearances and helped the team secure numerous trophies. Known for his goalscoring instincts, the ex-Netherlands international turned to coaching after retiring, starting with PSV's academy before eventually becoming head coach for the 2022/23 season.

His team scored an impressive 89 goals that season, leading the league in that respect, and Saha believes that Van Nistelrooy's combination of goalscoring expertise and his ability to pass on this skill makes him the perfect mentor for the promising Hojlund.

"First of all, Ruud has become a complete manager and can create a style going forward but also across the field," Saha told Gambling Zone. "He can definitely help this connection that has been missing between the forwards and midfield."

The Frenchman further commented on the importance of a relationship between a coach and player, pointing out: "When you have a striker like Rasmus Hojlund, it's important to have a manager or a coach who knows exactly what he needs to get more opportunities."

Saha highlighted the potential impact Van Nistelrooy's expertise could have, saying: "Having Ruud van Nistelrooy will really help because I believe that he knows exactly what type of movement Hojlund needs and what type of positional sense he needs.

"So I think it's a clever move for Erik ten Hag, bringing in a coach that will have a better understanding of what Hojlund needs to do as a striker. If he manages to distribute this information the right way to the attacking midfielders and how to create those one-on-one opportunities, we will see immediate improvement in results."

Reflecting on the previous season's issues, Saha expressed: "Last year there was so much frustration in terms of the body language of the players, I would go as far to say it was horrific. I'm a quiet guy but I would be going mad if I saw that type of thing, it doesn't make sense for strikers."

Saha did however note Hojlund's impressive track record last season where the young forward netted 16 times for the club, suggesting the striker could emulate Van Nistelrooy under Ten Hag's tutelage - and who better to coach him than Van Nistelrooy himself?

Speaking about the appointments of Van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake, who has also joined United's coaching staff, Ten Hag said: "I am delighted that Rene and Ruud have agreed to join our project, adding a wealth of experience, knowledge and new energy to the staff.

"Now is a good time to refresh the coaching team as we look to build on the achievements of the past two years and push to the next level."