Joshua Zirkzee is getting faster, stronger and winning more duels according to Ruben Amorim, who says he can feel a trending improvement in the Dutch forward’s game.
Despite the disappointing nature of Sunday’s defeat at Tottenham, Zirkzee was one of United’s more eye-catching performers on the afternoon, backing up his equaliser off the bench in the recent Emirates FA Cup win over Leicester City with a positive showing on his first start in five matches.
The 23-year-old, who signed from Italian side Bologna in the summer, operated as one of Amorim’s two central attacking midfielders in the capital and regularly showed his technical quality on the ball, while going close to finding the net in both halves.
The 23-year-old, who signed from Italian side Bologna in the summer, operated as one of Amorim’s two central attacking midfielders in the capital and regularly showed his technical quality on the ball, while going close to finding the net in both halves.
On the back of a promising display, and with the Reds’ ranks currently depleted by a number of illnesses and injuries, Zirkzee may now have the opportunity for a run of games in the XI to build on his recent efforts.
If that is to be the case, Amorim’s comments in his post-match press conference at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium suggest it would be in the position that our no.11 played at the weekend, as a ‘number 10’, rather than as the man leading the line – a role he was often stationed in earlier in the campaign.
“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.”
If that is to be the case, Amorim’s comments in his post-match press conference at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium suggest it would be in the position that our no.11 played at the weekend, as a ‘number 10’, rather than as the man leading the line – a role he was often stationed in earlier in the campaign.
“I think Josh is not a clear [number] nine, he played more as a 10 [attacking midfielder],”Amorim said of Josh’s performance away to Tottenham.
“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.”
Along with Zirkzee, Amorim was also asked in his latest media briefing with journalists about mid-season signing Patrick Dorgu, who made his Premier League debut in the defeat at Tottenham.
Having featured as a right wing-back on his United bow in the FA Cup win over Leicester nine days earlier, the versatile defender played on the opposite flank against Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs, and was another player who caught the eye in N17.
Having featured as a right wing-back on his United bow in the FA Cup win over Leicester nine days earlier, the versatile defender played on the opposite flank against Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs, and was another player who caught the eye in N17.
“[With] Dorgu, the way Tottenham press, really high, sometimes you have more time to think than in the other games,”Amorim added on Patrick, who was afforded time and space in possession as our left wing-back, on occasions when United were able to play around Spurs’ efforts to win the ball back in advanced central areas.
“He played on the left also, that could help, but he has the experience to play left and right.
“So Dorgu will improve a lot and, for Josh, the same thing.”
Both players will hope to help United get back to winning ways on Saturday lunchtime, when a Premier League trip to Everton awaits as our next outing.