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Rasmus Hojlund says he is a work in progress that knows his worth as Manchester United’s big-money summer signing eyes improvements and derby success this weekend. The Red Devils’ need for a striker has been obvious for some time but eyebrows were raised when they plumped for potential over a proven talent like Harry Kane. United’s belief in Hojlund saw them pay Atalanta an initial £64million fee for the somewhat unproven striker, with the deal having the potential to reach up to £72m. The 20-year-old’s promising start suggests the club’s confidence in the rough diamond was not misplaced and the Denmark striker appears comfortable with the price tag. “I know my worth,” Hojlund said. “I know I have to perform every day because I play for Manchester United. “In the end, I am only 20 years old and I am not the finished article yet. I still have a lot to improve and I am getting there slowly. “I reckon I have had a fine start to the season and now we have to keep building and the goals will come in the Premier League.” Hojlund was dealing with a back issue when he arrived from Italy, delaying his debut until September. The 20-year-old has scored three in 10 appearances for United in all competitions, with the striker now looking to open his Premier League account having only scored in the Champions League to date. “I play for my boyhood club,” Hojlund said. “I have always supported Manchester United, so I am living my dream every day. “I try to show personality and want to give 110 per cent every time I play a football match, so maybe that is the reason why they are showing a special bond towards me.” “I’ve tried my best every time I play, and I still need to find the rhythm. “We have been struggling a little bit, but we are getting there now. We have had three wins in a row, so that is very positive. “For sure (I’m still getting used to the Premier League). I improve every day and my team-mates are starting to see my patterns in the game as well, so it is getting better and better every day.” Hojlund believes a bond is developing with homegrown star Marcus Rashford, whose debut Manchester derby day heroics he would love to replicate this weekend. The England forward scored United’s winner in his first senior match against rivals City, who head to Old Trafford for Sunday’s mouthwatering top-flight clash. “It would be a big experience, so I am looking forward to it,” Hojlund said as United look to build on Premier League wins against Brentford and Sheffield United. “It is always special to play a rival and if we win the game, we can get closer to the top, so it would be nice.” Asked for his most memorable derby match, the boyhood United fan said: “The bicycle kick from Wayne Rooney, of course! Everybody remembers that, don’t they?” Among the many talking points ahead of the Manchester derby is sure to be comparisons between Hojlund and City sharpshooter Erling Haaland. The young talent’s profile, career trajectory and Scandinavian roots have led to numerous comparisons to the Norway striker, who United tried to sign in the past. “Like I’ve said many times, I don’t want to be compared to him,” Hojlund said. “He is incredible and probably the best striker in the world right now. “We can keep that on the low for now, but I hope I can improve and then we will see what I am capable of.” Hojlund was speaking in the bowels of Old Trafford after United defeated his hometown team and former club in a crucial Champions League clash. Erik ten Hag’s men needed kick-started their Group A campaign with Tuesday’s hard-fought 1-0 victory against a Copenhagen side that included Hojlund’s younger brother Oscar. Rasmus spoke alongside the 18-year-old, who came off the bench at Old Trafford hours after twin Emil helped Copenhagen Under-19s beat United in the UEFA Youth League. “It is a great feeling being on the same pitch as my brother, and not only in a normal stadium,” the United frontman said. “In Denmark it is one of the most special stadiums in the world, so it is a special feeling.” Read More Gabriel Jesus urges Arsenal team-mates to believe they can win Champions League Sale condemn ‘disgusting abuse’ aimed at Tom Curry and his family Leigh Halfpenny announces international retirement after 101 caps for Wales Everton boss Sean Dyche pays tribute to ‘amazing servant’ Bill Kenwright Moeen Ali: Sri Lanka coach Chris Silverwood will be fired up to face England Having ‘hero’ in opponent’s corner could unsettle Tyson Fury – Carl Frampton

Everton manager Sean Dyche has paid tribute to Bill Kenwright, who died on Monday at the age of 78, calling the late chairman “an amazing servant” to the club. On Wednesday morning, Dyche and club captain Seamus Coleman laid flowers at the statue of Dixie Dean outside Goodison Park, where the Everton squad were holding a training session. All players and staff observed a minute’s silence before the session and Kenwright’s image was shown on the stadium’s screens. Everton announced on Tuesday that Kenwright had died following a battle with cancer. In a statement on the club website, Dyche said: “It’s a very sad time for everyone at Everton Football Club to lose our chairman, someone who has been such an amazing servant to the club in so many ways. “His influence in bringing me to Everton in the first place was important and I have nothing but gratitude and respect for his unwavering support of myself, the staff and our players. “It was a pleasure to share the moment of reaching our objective last season with him – a moment I know he felt so strongly about after such an arduous season, on and off the pitch… “He was an incredible professional, in terms of what he did with Everton and also what he achieved in the theatre industry. Spending time with him and learning about his family, you couldn’t help but be taken by his passion.” Dyche was told of the news midway through Tuesday’s training and called an immediate halt to the session as players and staff paid their respects. Kenwright, who succeeded Sir Phillip Carter as chairman in 2004 after first joining the board at Goodison Park in 1989, had a cancerous tumour removed from his liver in August. Liverpool-born Kenwright was a successful theatre and film producer when asked to join the Everton board in 1989. He bought a majority 68 per cent stake in the club in 1999 and became deputy chairman before replacing Carter in his current role. Dyche added: “Beyond his deep love of his family, one of those big passions, of course, was football – the game as a whole, as well as his obvious lasting love of Everton football club. “His story – a boyhood supporter who went on to become chairman – is something so rare in the modern game, especially at the top level. “He always believed in Everton and stood by the club, even in the toughest times. He was steadfast until the very end. “Like so many who knew him, my heart and my thoughts are with his family at this extremely sad time.” Read More Tom Curry in England’s starting line-up to face Argentina Gabriel Jesus urges Arsenal team-mates to believe they can win Champions League Sale condemn ‘disgusting abuse’ aimed at Tom Curry and his family Leigh Halfpenny announces international retirement after 101 caps for Wales Moeen Ali: Sri Lanka coach Chris Silverwood will be fired up to face England Having ‘hero’ in opponent’s corner could unsettle Tyson Fury – Carl Frampton

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Gabriel Jesus believes he can finally win the Champions League and has told his Arsenal team-mates to share the faith. The Brazil forward has a love affair with Europe’s premiere club competition and was the difference-maker as Arsenal won 2-1 at Sevilla on Tuesday night. Jesus provided a moment of magic to lay on the opening goal for compatriot Gabriel Martinelli before curling home a fine individual effort – although his celebrations were curtailed as he limped off with 10 minutes to go. The former Manchester City striker, who came off the bench when Pep Guardiola’s side lost the 2021 Champions League final to Chelsea, has a phenomenal strike-rate in the competition – his goal at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium was his 23rd in 41 appearances for City and Arsenal. He still harbours ambitions of winning the trophy and feels it is something he and his colleagues can achieve this season. “It’s a competition that I love,” he said after his man-of-the-match display. “All the competitions I love, because I just love to play football. But I don’t know, since day one in the Champions League, my debut, I scored goals. Obviously it is not easy, but I think we have to believe. If we don’t believe, we cannot be here Gabriel Jesus “I haven’t won it yet, so I am looking for this, for this beautiful trophy. Obviously it is not easy, but I think we have to believe. If we don’t believe, we cannot be here.” While his goal was a moment to savour, Jesus’ role in Martinelli’s opening effort will live long in the memory as a deft touch took two Sevilla midfielders out of the game. A perfectly-weighted slide-rule pass played in Martinelli who, having missed a golden chance to break the deadlock earlier in the game, obliged with a cool finish as the two Brazil internationals combined to great effect. “I think for me as the type of player I am, I drop a lot more on the left side than the right side,” Jesus replied when asked about his relationship and understanding playing alongside Martinelli. “Obviously I drop on the right as well to help B (Bukayo Saka) and to play with B, but I drop more on the left. It works. “The wingers we have, not just Martinelli and B, but Reiss (Nelson), Leo (Trossard) and even Eddie (Nketiah) or Fabio (Vieira) when they play there, they are quality players. “I just go out wide and I try to play short passes and give them the ball, and they try to find me as well. It worked with Martinelli and I am very happy.” Mikel Arteta’s side return to domestic action when they welcome Premier League bottom club Sheffield United to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Gunners are unbeaten in their opening nine league games of the campaign and Jesus could yet be involved despite limping off late on in Spain. “I felt something. Let’s see,” he said. “I did some tests with the physio, it looks not that big, but let’s see. I have a scan, maybe tomorrow. I’m pretty sure it will be nothing.” Read More Sale condemn ‘disgusting abuse’ aimed at Tom Curry and his family Leigh Halfpenny announces international retirement after 101 caps for Wales Sean Dyche and Seamus Coleman pay tribute to Everton chairman Bill Kenwright Moeen Ali: Sri Lanka coach Chris Silverwood will be fired up to face England Having ‘hero’ in opponent’s corner could unsettle Tyson Fury – Carl Frampton Denver Nuggets open NBA season with 119-107 win over Los Angeles Lakers

Everton boss Sean Dyche and captain Seamus Coleman have paid tribute to chairman Bill Kenwright. The pair laid flowers at the Dixie Dean statue outside Goodison Park on Tuesday morning. Kenwright died at the age of 78 following a battle with cancer, the club announced on Monday. Kenwright, who succeeded Sir Phillip Carter as chairman in 2004 after first joining the board at Goodison Park in 1989, had a cancerous tumour removed from his liver in August. Liverpool-born Kenwright was a successful theatre and film producer when asked to join the Everton board in 1989. He bought a majority 68 per cent stake in the club in 1999 and became deputy chairman before replacing Carter in his current role. Read More ‘I’m here, I’m ready to go’ – Deontay Wilder keen for bout with Anthony Joshua Moeen Ali: Sri Lanka coach Chris Silverwood will be fired up to face England Having ‘hero’ in opponent’s corner could unsettle Tyson Fury – Carl Frampton

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Gabriel Jesus has calmed Arsenal fears after picking up an injury in Tuesday night’s Champions League win at Sevilla. Jesus scored Arsenal’s second goal in the 2-1 victory and produced one of his best performances of the season, but left the pitch holding his hamstring. Afterwards, his manager Mikel Arteta sounded concerned, telling TNT Sports: “He straight away asked to be subbed which is not good news because Gabby is not a playing who does that at all, so we will need to wait and see over the next few days.” But Jesus later said: “I felt something. Let’s see. I did some tests with the physio, it looks not that big, but let’s see. I have a scan, maybe tomorrow. I’m pretty sure it will be nothing.” Arteta heaped praise on Jesus the 26-year-old Brazil international, who also provided an assist to compatriot Gabriel Martinelli, taking Arsenal to the top of Group B at the midway point of the pool stage. Jesus, who has now netted 23 times in 41 appearances in Europe’s elite club competition, joined Arsenal after five seasons at fellow Premier League side Manchester City in July last year. When asked if Jesus’s goalscoring record in the Champions League was one of the reasons why Arsenal signed him, Arteta, who served as an assistant to Pep Guardiola at City from 2016-2019, said: “For sure, he’s been through a lot in the last few years and he’s still really young. “He has enormous experiences, and some of them, while not the nicest, they’ve been necessary to (shape) the player he is today. I’m really happy to have him in the team. He came here for a reason; he changed our world. He’s brought so much belief and energy to the team, and he needs to step into those moments. That’s why he played, and he’s done that. “That’s when a player becomes accountable to the team, and the team relies on those players to win games. We need players like this.” Arsenal next host Sheffield United on Saturday in the top-flight before switching their focus to the League Cup on 1 November, when they visit West Ham United in the fourth round. Additional reporting by Reuters Read More Gabriel Jesus has ‘changed our world’ – Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta Mikel Arteta concerned by Gabriel Jesus hamstring injury: ‘Not good news’ Jesus inspires Arsenal while Harry Kane helps Bayern to victory over Galatasaray