Who would have imagined that after Joshua Zirkzee was brutally booed off by his own fans, sprinting down the tunnel on the verge of tears, we’d be here now?
It was less than two months ago that the summer signing from Bologna was jeered off by a section of Manchester United supporters after he was hooked in the 33rd minute of a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Newcastle. At the time, speculation was rife that Zirkzee was on his way out of the club, with Juventus and Napoli among the parties that were keen on signing him during the January transfer window.
However, if reports are to be believed, he didn’t want to listen to any talk of a mid-season exit, with his primary focus being on coming good at United. True enough, he hunkered down, rolled up his sleeves and is slowly turning doubters into believers.
Since the Newcastle match, Zirkzee has made 12 appearances across all competitions and has started the club’s last three games. His and Rasmus Hojlund’s goalscoring woes have been well-documented this term but what separates the two is Zirkzee’s overall game.
If he fails to find the back of the net, Hojlund often provides very little to nothing at all. Some may argue that he’s even detrimental to the team. The opposite is true when it comes to Zirkzee, who gives so much more: beautiful touches, brilliant link-up play, excellent holding-up of the ball and some silky footwork.
He has also demonstrated the ability to dance through opposition players, helping United get higher up the pitch.
Over the past few games especially, in the number 10 role where Ruben Amorim has primarily deployed him, Zirkzee has shown very encouraging glimpses of what he can develop into. He appears rejuvenated in the area behind the striker, often roaming the pitch to get involved in the action.
Perhaps his long-term future lies in midfield. He certainly has the attributes for it. Amorim himself hinted at this a week ago, as he hailed the 23-year-old’s improvement.
The United head coach told reporters about Zirkzee, “I think Josh is not a clear [number] nine, he played more as a 10 [attacking midfielder]. ”
“He’s stronger physically, he’s thinner, he’s working really hard, and he plays in a better position for him. He’s improving, he’s winning more duels and he’s even faster, you feel that in the game, and that helps to make the decision.
In the 3-2 win over Ipswich Town on Wednesday, Zirkzee was superb yet again, earning rave reviews from fans and the media.
By no means is he the finished product, and in truth, he’s still a long way off being considered world-class. But the tools are there and in the right environment, the sky could be the limit for the Netherlands international.
His talent and ability are undeniable, and he’s already shown he has the mentality to pull himself out of tough spells. Not many players could bounce back from the treatment he endured against Newcastle.
In him, there is a strong will to succeed and that’s the most important thing for a young player. It’s no wonder Amorim appreciates him and is now rewarding him with a bigger role in the team. Meanwhile, Zirkzee is repaying his manager’s faith in kind and in the process, slowly but surely making himself indispensable.
When United inevitably dip into the market this summer to buy a striker, Zirkzee should be nowhere near the list of players sacrificed to make room for a new arrival. The Dutchman brings plenty to the table and, at this rate, who’s to say he couldn’t go on to become INEOS’ best signing yet?
Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images
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Derick Kinoti
Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
