Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim could be hit with a transfer request ahead of the January window.
Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo are currently on the fringes of the Manchester United squad
Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo are currently on the fringes of the Manchester United squad
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Former Manchester United star Lee Sharpe has insisted that Joshua Zirkzee's time at Old Trafford will come and that he is a "phenomenal player".
MEN Sport reported last month that Zirkzee is likely to request an exit in the January transfer window after being starved of playing time. The World Cup is on the horizon and so far this season the Dutchman has played a total of just 90 minutes across all competitions.
Along with Zirkzee, Kobbie Mainoo is another player who finds himself on the fringes of first team action while Sharpe understands their frustrations, he has stressed they must bide their time. "I would like to see more of Zirkzee," the Adventure Gamers ambassador told the Manchester Evening News.
"I think Zirkzee is a phenomenal player and he would benefit from getting more game time. I think Mainoo should hope to get more minutes in the centre of midfield.
"He has worked on his physicalities a bit and I would like to see him more because I think he can do more on the ball than some. I would not want to sell either of them.
"It is a long and tough season. Injuries are only so close around the corner and you never know what is going to happen.
"You have got to have cover and Zirkzee and Mainoo are unbelievably quality players, fantastic on the ball, very rarely give the ball away and I think you are going to need them at some point. I am surprised but I suppose the only reason Mainoo is not getting more minutes is because they have had to put Bruno [Fernandes] back in there and you can’t really leave Bruno out.
"And you need that consistency and the drive of Casemiro just to hold the fort a little bit and protect the back three. I think Mainoo will feel very frustrated, Zirkzee will too because he is as good as, if not better than, [Benjamin] Sesko but they are trying to give him minutes and get him into the team and let him know what the team is all about.
"I understand why they are frustrated but their time will come - I think they will get their chance."
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