Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim discussed the future of Joshua Zirkzee last week and he started the defeat to Everton on Monday night.
Joshua Zirkzee reacts during Manchester United's defeat to Everton
Joshua Zirkzee reacts during Manchester United's defeat to Everton
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Ruben Amorim was asked to give an update on the future of Joshua Zirkzee last week. "I was a football player, I understand everything," he said. "And I want to help my players in every situation, so I don't know what is going to happen.
"I want my players happy, I understand the frustration of some players, seeing that the World Cup is there. And I know what it means for the World Cup, but Manchester United comes first, so if I can help the club and the players, I will be happy, if not I have to think about the team."
Of course Amorim understands why players who are not playing regularly might not be happy, but he couldn't have been clearer when saying United come first. With a World Cup on the horizon, Zirkzee knows one start in 13 games in all competitions isn't enough, but the lack of European football and an early Carabao Cup exit has made it nearly impossible for rotation.
Couple that with the attacking signings made this summer and Zirkzee was always going to struggle to get minutes. But any decision made by Amorim needs to be made with the club's best interests at heart.
Zirkzee was given his opportunity to shine and prove he had a part to play this season against Everton with Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko out injured. To say he failed his audition would be something of an understatement.
Zirkzee looked lost in the No.9 role and that led to frustration from all inside Old Trafford. Zirkzee has said himself that he is not an out-and-out centre-forward and Amorim admitted last season he looked more comfortable playing as a No.10. The problem with that is United have an abundance of No.10 options. What they don't have is an abundance of striker options, and that's where Zirkzee was signed to play.
When Zirkzee was jeered off the pitch following his early substitution against Newcastle last season, there looked to be no way back for him at Old Trafford. However, he knuckled down and he deserves credit for the part he played in the second half of last season - even if it was in a truly abysmal campaign for the club.
If United were to look to sell Zirkzee, any money they received could be put towards a replacement for Casemiro or a specialist wing-back. Or an actual centre-forward who could play back-up to Sesko. What's clear is that Zirkzee cannot play the role he was signed to play, and Monday's defeat to Everton confirmed that.
It has not worked for Zirkzee in Manchester and it's far from all his own fault. He was signed because he had a release clause and openly admitted he wasn't an out-and-out centre-forward, yet was brought in to provide competition and back-up to Rasmus Hojlund, another failed striker signing.
If Zirkzee wants to go in January then United have to let him.