Even the most optimistic of Manchester United fanatics – and that includes Ruben Amorim, by the way – did not anticipate the sight of Joshua Zirkzee playing a major role during Wednesday’s Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao.
It was expected that Zirkzee would be out for the rest of 2025/26 when the Dutchman picked up a hamstring injury during April’s 4-1 hammering by Newcastle United.
But, much to the relief of a fanbase fearing a European cup final with an out-of-sorts Rasmus Hojlund leading the line, Zirkzee was spotted training under Ruben Amorim on Tuesday alongside fellow injury doubts Diogo Dalot and Leny Yoro.
Both Dalot and Yoro were included in Man United’s 26-man travelling squad.
Like Zirkzee, the versatile Dalot has not featured since April. Yoro had the Manchester United supporters fearing the worst, meanwhile, when he limped off against West Ham earlier this month.
Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee available for Manchester United vs Tottenham final
Amorim, then, is understandably delighted to have three key players back available at the ideal moment, even if Wednesday’s make-or-break clash at the San Mames comes too soon for Matthijs de Ligt.
“Me neither!,” Amorim beamed when one reporter admitted he did not expect the Man United trio to return in time for the 2025 Europa League decider. “They [Zirkzee, Dalot and Yoro] recovered quite well.
“They pushed [to be back]. Of course, we respect the feeling of the player but we pushed a little bit because they wanted to be part of the team.
“That is a very, very good sign! Of course, they are limited in the minutes for the game but they can help us win the game.
“De Ligt is out.”
Amorim applauded Zirkzee’s improvement with Real Sociedad display a standout
Leny Yoro has been arguably Man United’s standout performer other than the indefatigable Bruno Fernandes in recent months. Yoro was outstanding as United swept Athletic Club aside in the semi-finals, striding forward from the back like Rio Ferdinand in his prime.
Dalot’s return to fitness gives Amorim the option of shifting Noussair Mazraoui into a more central role – a useful option too, given the unavailability of both De Ligt and long-term absentee Lisandro Martinez – while Zirkzee has tended to save his most effective performances for European competition since arriving from Bologna.
“I think he is improving in all aspects,” Amorim said in April, when the £35 million summer signing was starting to really hit his stride as a Man United frontman.
“I think he needs to be more selfish. He is not a typical striker, but he has to be more selfish. [But] He is more aggressive now. He works better now, he is defending better now, he is connecting quite well and he played as a striker in some games, especially against Arsenal, and did really, really well.
“Then in some games – against Sociedad [in the Europa League last-16] – he played more as a ten. So he can adapt to different situations. Josh is improving and showing good things.”
With De Ligt and Martinez the only senior absentees, Ayden Heaven and Toby Collyer are both part of Amorim’s 26-man squad after enduring their own spells out of action.
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