Former Sunderland star Micky Gray has asked Manchester United to sell attacker Joshua Zirkzee in the summer after his performance in the Red Devils’ 0-0 draw against Sunderland.
Zirkzee has struggled to find minutes this season as interim boss Michael Carrick has used Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo as his primary forward options this since take over. With Mbeumo benched and Sesko injured, Zirkzee got a rare chance to start for the Old Trafford based club.
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He failed to make the best use of this opportunity and put out an anonymous display before getting substituted after 65 minutes. Speaking on talkSPORT after the game, Micky Gray was critical of the Dutchman’s performance and claimed that the 24-year-old star didn’t deserve to play for Man United. He said (via Metro.co.uk):
“For the life of me I don’t know how Bryan Mbeumo has not come on at half time for Joshua Zirkzee.
“He’s just not a Man United player. I’m sorry to say it, but everything bounces off him as a striker.
“He’s a huge guy but for somebody who’s so big and tall and strong as he is, he’s just so weak.
“And I can’t believe he’s actually still playing for Manchester United. I think he’s certainly one of the players that you’re trying to move on in the summer.”
Zirkzee has only started 5 of the 36 games Manchester United have played in the Premier League this season and has scored 2 goals and provided 1 assist. The striker has been linked with a move away from the club this summer with multiple clubs reportedly showing interest in the Dutchman’s services.
Michael Carrick speaks on Zirkzee’s showing in Manchester United draw against Sunderland
Speaking after the game, Michael Carrick explained why Joshua Zirkzee struggled in Manchester United’s draw against Sunderland. He noted that Zirkzee was left isolated for most of the game and he will not judge the Dutchman based off one performance. He said (via Manchester Evening News):
“It was an away game coming here which is challenging, and I thought there were certain times when Josh linked the play really well and certain times we probably left him a little bit isolated at times.
“That’s how it goes, I think he played a real part for the team and I understand it’s not always easy for any player when you haven’t played for a little bit to come into a game, so certainly not just judging any individual on just one performance today anyway.”
Zirkzee will hot have too much time left to convince Carrick as the Red Devils have only 2 games remaining before ending the season
Edited by Vignesh Raja
