Newcastle United have never done a Premier League double over Manchester United and Ruben Amorim will want to keep it that way.
The Red Devils resume their Premier League campaign at St James’ Park on Sunday afternoon, with Manchester United looking to end an underwhelming 2024/25 season on a high.
In the reverse fixture, Newcastle comfortably beat United 2-0 at Old Trafford with Ruben Amorim’s side swept away by the Magpies in the opening 20 minutes.
Casemiro and Christian Eriksen were woeful after being paired together in midfield. Amorim was seething on the sidelines as he watched his side crumble before him.
He was forced into an early change and Joshua Zirkzee was hooked after 33 minutes in brutal fashion.
Joshua Zirkzee was in ‘tears’ after being hooked vs Newcastle
United suffered a miserable end to 2024 with a defeat to Eddie Howe’s Newcastle.
Zirkzee was booed by United fans as he left the pitch at Old Trafford. The £36m Ineos signing did endure a nightmare start to the match, and he was going through a goal drought at the time.
When Amorim made the tough decision to hook Joshua Zirkzee after 30 minutes, the Dutch forward ran down the tunnel at Old Trafford before re-emerging a few minutes later.
According to the Daily Mail, Zirkzee was ‘reduced to tears’ after his first-half substitution.
However, when he came back from the dressing room, Zirkzee did applaud United fans at Old Trafford even though he was booed as he left the pitch.
Joshua Zirkzee’s redemption at Man United since Newcastle hook
After being dragged off the pitch against Newcastle, there were several reports that Zirkzee could leave United in the summer despite having joined just a few months before.
However, the 23-year-old bounced back and Zirkzee impressed United fans a few days after the Newcastle clash against Arsenal.
Zirkzee has quickly become a fan favourite at Old Trafford for the resilience and character he has shown since being hooked against Newcastle.
Recently, Amorim praised Zirkzee’s improvement and urged him to become more “selfish”. With Rasmus Hojlund struggling against Lyon midweek, Zirkzee could start against Newcastle on Sunday afternoon.
READ MORE: Joshua Zirkzee reacts to Lyon’s stoppage-time equaliser, ‘now we have to…’
Zirkzee changed the game against Lyon, scoring United’s second with a brilliant header.
Against Newcastle, he has a chance to complete his redemption arc by helping the Red Devils to claim victory on Tyneside.
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