Alex Turk
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

It would be difficult to think of a more sour way to enter an international break than watching Manchester United lose 3-0 to Liverpool at Old Trafford.

The scoreline was the centrepiece of a plethora of concerns terrorising United supporters over this annoyingly early two-week hiatus.

One of those was Joshua Zirkzee, starting his first game since completing a £36.5m transfer from Bologna. In catastrophic circumstances, Zirkzee was visibly still getting up to speed with both his match fitness and Erik ten Hag’s tactical instructions.

The towering Dutch striker could – and perhaps should – have marked the occasion with two goals, though, rather than squandering a pair of close-range opportunities.

However, in the Netherlands’ Nations League win over Bosnia-Herzegovina last week, Zirkzee showcased exactly what he offers.

His link-up ability and aerial prowess was on display in the 5-1 triumph, heading his country into the lead and providing an assist for Tijjani Reijnders later in the first half.

Zirkzee created four chances – more than any other player on the pitch – and took eight touches inside the opposition penalty box, compared to six against Liverpool.

Yet, the 23-year-old’s starting place will be threatened once Rasmus Hojlund returns to contention. Zirkzee losing all 10 of his duels in the defeat by Arne Slot’s rampant visitors intensified the cries for Hojlund’s injury comeback.

But the Zirkzee who was named Serie A’s Young Player of the Year last season unquestionably upgrades United’s attacking arsenal. That player was on show against Bosnia.

And it cannot be forgotten that without Zirkzee’s heroic debut off the bench in the opening weekend 1-0 victory over Fulham, Ten Hag would be winless at the start of a critical campaign.

Clearly, he is a very capable player who, like any new arrival, requires patience.

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