Ruben Amorim has explained why Joshua Zirkzee is so important to Manchester United ahead of the Red Devils’ forthcoming clash with West Ham at Old Trafford.
Joshua Zirkzee has been leading the Manchester United frontline in recent weeks after a knee injury had sidelined summer signing Benjamin Sesko.
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The 24-year-old Dutchman, who has been linked with a January transfer exit, has struggled for United first-team minutes after falling down the pecking order.
Zirkzee failed to impress United fans on his first Premier League start of the season last week, which came in the Red Devils’ 1-0 defeat to Everton at Old Trafford.
However, Ruben Amorim stuck with the out-of-favour Red Devils striker and rolled the dice with Zirkzee again for United’s encounter with Crystal Palace last Sunday.
What Ruben Amorim has noticed about Joshua Zirkzee’s Man Utd performance against Crystal Palace
Joshua Zirkzee made his impact at Selhurst Park this past weekend after the Netherlands star scored Manchester United’s equaliser against Crystal Palace.
The Dutch forward brought down the ball from a Bruno Fernandes free-kick before Zirkzee managed to squeeze his effort past Dean Henderson from a tight angle.
Zirkzee scored inside the opening 10 minutes of the second half and pulled United back into the contest after Jean-Philippe Mateta netted in the first half for Palace.
Speaking to MUTV, United manager Amorim insisted that Zirkzee’s link-up play in the second half was essential to United’s success at Selhurst Park in Sunday’s contest.
🚨🤕 Man Utd injury update latest ahead of the West Ham match!
- Matheus Cunha: BACK 🙌
- Benjamin Sesko: OUT 😔
- Harry Maguire: OUT 😔
- Unnamed Man Utd player: DOUBT 🤨
- Unnamed Man Utd player: DOUBT 🤨
“Really important [Zirkzee’s equaliser], but again, the focus is just not the goal,” he said, as per Manchester United’s official website.
“Of course, he’s a striker and people want goals from a striker, but like the other guys, I think [in] the first half we need to do better.
“But in the second half, the way he connects the game and made the runs for us was the key to winning the game.
“Not just the goal. It’s to forget about that goal and try to get a new one.”
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Joshua Zirkzee’s first-half performance vs second-half display for Man Utd against Crystal Palace told the whole story
Zirkzee has now completed the full 90 minutes across back-to-back Premier League matches for United for the first time in the 2025-26 campaign.
The Netherlands international struggled in the first half against Palace and United were dominated by the Eagles at Selhurst Park before the half-time whistle.
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However, the momentum shift was visible in the second half and United benefited from Zirkzee’s impact in the final third and his link-up play in the frontline.
Bruno Fernandes picked up a second assist from another United free-kick after the Red Devils skipper set up Mason Mount for his side’s winner against Palace.
With Benjamin Sesko’s injury setback for United last month, all eyes will be on Zirkzee again for Thursday evening’s Premier League clash against West Ham.
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