Rasmus Hojlund, Man United’s new £72m star, could be SIX weeks away from being fully fit with the Red Devils likely to proceed with caution

When MRI scans show what they call a stress response hot spot, it’s actually a stress fracture. It is not too serious and is common in teenage soccer players.

Often they reach the age of 17, 18 or 19 and the intensity and workload suddenly increase with an immature skeleton.

Most often it occurs in the lower back – the repetitive running, turning, kicking, jumping and landing, placing a high load through the soft tissues and ligaments and increasing tension through some small bones between the vertebrae.

It will feel a little sore and stiff. On the scans it will appear as a very fine line through a very small bone. If it appears, it’s a fracture and you should stop and relieve yourself.

Usually it only occurs on one side, left or right. If it is on both sides, it is more serious because there is a danger of the vertebrae slipping and putting pressure on the spinal cord, and this would require more time and careful assessment.

Only on one side are you looking at two to three months to heal properly from the time the player quits. As Rasmus Hojlund played for Denmark on June 19, he could be at least six weeks away from full fitness.

Without knowing the severity of a particular injury, it’s impossible to be sure – but to be back in three months for a relatively simple stress fracture is a good outcome.

They can return so easily, and with the proximity of the spinal cord and other nerves and soft tissues, the doctors will rely entirely on scans, even if the player says they feel fine. The only way to judge how it heals is the scan.

If it’s ‘hot’ and ‘active’ it hasn’t healed and, given the price tag, Manchester United will proceed cautiously and manage Hojlund’s workload, aware that he has missed pre-season.