The Denmark international, who joined United last summer in a £72m deal from Atalanta, has endured an underwhelming first season at Old Trafford.
Eight goals in 27 league games is a poor return from United’s main striker and Carragher suspects the jump from Serie A to the Premier League has been ‘too much’ for the 21-year-old.
Given his age and inexperience, there is surely more to come from Hojlund but Carragher believes he would have benefited from a move elsewhere before linking up with Manchester United in another two years’ time.
‘I feel a bit sorry for Hojlund, he’s a young lad, the jump he has made is probably a bit too much for him to start with,’ the former Liverpool and England defender said on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet.
‘He should have gone somewhere else for two years then to United maybe. I just feel sorry for him.’
Carragher felt especially sorry for Hojlund during Manchester United’s embarrassing 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Monday night.
He added: ‘Do you know why this winds me up? [players putting their hands over their mouths and speaking to other]. On Monday Night Football, you are watching on the normal TV that everyone is watching.
‘[In the] second half, Manchester United counterattacked, and Antony played a ball through to Hojlund, there is bit of a mix up and Antony throws his arms at Hojlund. They go back and defend a corner and he is still doing it; I hate that.
‘When Antony was coming off, I know what he was talking about, he is talking about one of the players, he’s talking about the manager. He is not talking about where they [the players] are going.
‘I hate all of that whispering when you have had a bad defeat. They are talking about someone, and I am not having that. You can imagine the coach on the way home and on the plane. Hojlund is probably sat there thinking everyone is talking about him.’
Hojlund scored in six successive games for Manchester United from January 14 to February 18 but has netted just once in 11 matches since that impressive run.
The Dane has four more chances to add to his tally this season, with United facing Arsenal, Newcastle and Brighton in the league before meeting locals rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
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