Joshua Zirkzee has avoided a ban for his “X-rated celebration” against Southampton after Amad completed his hat-trick in Manchester United’s 3-1 comeback win at Old Trafford on Thursday night.
The Red Devils were thoroughly outplayed by the team languished at the bottom of the table with the worst record at this stage of a Premier League campaign in history.
Southampton could easily have been three-nil up heading into the final period of a frantic game if not for the efforts of Andre Onana.
The Cameroonian international made a number of brilliant saves to keep his side in the game while 19-year-old defender Leny Yoro faced a torrid evening trying to contain Saints winger Kamaldeen Sulemana.
Zirkzee, 23, replaced the anonymous Rasmus Hojlund in the 53rd minute with the Dutch forward’s link-up play offering an immediate improvement to United’s misfiring attack. He was a focal point his teammates were able to play off in a way Hojlund has been incapable of providing in his eighteen months at Old Trafford.
And while Zirkzee has also struggled since moving to Manchester, capped off by being booed as he was subbed against Newcastle over the Christmas period, his performances over the last week have demonstrated why the club paid £36.5 million to Bologna for the Serie A Young Player of the Year.
Zirkzee’s impressive cameo off the bench against Southampton followed a similarly strong substitute showing against Arsenal at the Emirates last weekend in the FA Cup.
The Dutchman capped this off by scoring the winning penalty in a dramatic third round tie to help United progress in their cup defence.
It constituted the best week of Zirkzee’s fledging career at Old Trafford and the confidence in his all-round play is a testament to that. However, this confidence almost landed the 23-year-old in hot water with the footballing authorities after a lewd celebration after the third goal against Southampton.
Zirkzee grabbed his crotch while the United team celebrated with hat trick hero Amad – a gesture described as “X-rated” by The Sun, which has seen Cristiano Ronaldo and Jude Bellingham face punishment for last year. But the report reveals the Football Association (FA) have chosen to send a “warning” to the Dutch forward without any prospect of a ban, meaning he will be available for tomorrow’s match against Brighton & Hove Albion.
The FA’s statement said: “As guidance, we have issued Joshua Zirkzee with a reminder of his responsibilities, and he will face no further action.”
It’s a major boost for 23-year-old as he aims to build on his positive performances at Old Trafford tomorrow afternoon with head coach Ruben Amorim undoubtedly relieved by the FA’s decision not to punish his striker further.
Featured image by Carl Recine via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
