Joshua Zirkzee will no doubt receive a major morale boost after the Manchester United summer signing earned massive recognition for his work last season.
The 23-year-old Dutch forward arrived at Old Trafford in 2024 from Serie A outfit Bologna after Manchester United signed him in a deal worth £36.54m.
Joshua Zirkzee made an immediate mark on his United career after he came off the bench and scored the winner against Fulham at Old Trafford.
Despite his exploits against Fulham in August, Zirkzee has endured a mixed start to life in England and has been fighting for a place in the starting XI at United
However, the Netherlands striker finally broke his goalscoring drought on Sunday after he netted a stunning brace in the 4-0 demolition win over Everton.
Zirkzee, who has been linked with Juventus, has only managed to score three times for the Red Devils in 13 Premier League matches since his summer transfer.
Zirkzee’s Bologna work recognised
Joshua Zirkzee, who has two assists to his name at Manchester United, was named in the Serie A Team of the Year at the Gran Gala del Calcio in Italy.
The former Bologna star impressed during the 2023-24 campaign and Zirkzee scored 11 times in 34 Serie A appearances for the Italian club.
According to Manchester United’s official website, Zirkzee was one of six players nominated for the forward positions inthe Team of the Year squad.
United made a move for Zirkzee back in July in a bid to strengthen the attacking options in Erik ten Hag’s first-team squad after Anthony Martial’s departure.
However, Erik ten Hag was sacked as United manager in late October and Ruben Amorim was snapped up from Sporting CP in November as his replacement.
Amorim impressed by Zirkzee so far
Zirkzee led the frontline against Everton on the weekend and the United striker saw out the full 90 minutes in the Premier League clash at Old Trafford.
Speaking after Sunday’s 4-0 thumping of Everton, Ruben Amorim insisted that Zirkzee’s brace would be “important for the confidence” that the player needs.
“First thing, I need all the players to cope with all the games,” he said.
“I just try to help my players and put them in a good position for their characteristics, and I think, today, it would be really hard, even for Rasmus [Hojlund], to fight with the two centre-backs of Everton.
“So, we tried to push them to a position that they are not so comfortable. Josh did a great job, scoring two goals is always important for the confidence.
“But more important than that is the performance, the way he fought in every situation, so it was a good day for him and for our team.”
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