Erik ten Hag is confident his Manchester United strikers will get back in the goals regardless of whether he is able to make a new signing in the January transfer window – but warned that they have to ‘step up’.

United go into Sunday’s clash with Everton at Goodison Park with just 13 goals in 12 Premier League games this season. Marcus Rashford is the only forward to score in the league and, even then, last season’s 30-goal top marksman only has one to his name this term.

United have been linked with signing a new striker in January despite paying Atalanta £72million for Rasmus Hojlund in the summer. 

However, Ten Hag preferred to focus on the players already in his squad when asked at his pre-match press conference about the possibility of bringing in new blood.

However, he insisted he was ‘confident’ in his options and pointed to Hojlund’s five Champions League goals as evidence of quality

He backed his forwards to come good and end the barren spell, but also told them that they need to rise to the challenge of playing for a club like United.

‘I’m confident,’ he said. ‘Our players are able to score goals, some have showed it already. Rashy scored last season 30 goals, Rasmus Hojlund scored five goals in the Champions League, that’s massive. Not many players across Europe can deliver that.

‘Our players are capable of scoring goals, and there will come a point when they will do. As a team, it’s good, we are ranked fifth in the Premier League for creating chances. 

‘They have to step up, they know that. You have to deal with that with the pressure and the standards of Man United, but our players have the abilities to score goals.’