Ian Wright doubts whether Joshua Zirkzee will play under new Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim ahead of Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford.
Zirkzee, 23, signed from Bologna for £36 million during the summer transfer window but has scored only one goal in his 14 appearances. Just half of those have been from the start after being replaced in the starting lineup by Hojlund now that the £64m striker is fit again following a pre-season injury.
Reports have now surfaced claiming that former manager Erik ten Hag did not want Zirkzee—who reputedly arrived at the club a stone overweight. Instead, United’s revamped football leadership team was seemingly behind the signing.
According to Wright, Amorim’s appointment will likely not increase Zirkzee’s involvement in the first team. The former Arsenal striker made the claims on the latest episode of the Wrighty’s House podcast.
“Do you know something? When I look at the strikers at Manchester United, I look at [Rasmus] Hojlund and Zirkzee,” Wright explained, “going forward, as a United player to take the club to the level they need to be – top-four, Champions League, title challengers – I can’t see in any formation Zirkzee making it from what I’ve seen so far.
“I can see it with Hojlund; he looks like a future player with better players around him. He gives me the impression that if he gets in and around the box and he gets chances, he can go hot.
“I don’t see the same with Zirkzee. I look at him and his movement, I don’t see anything in his game that makes me think, ‘Okay, there he is, I see what he can do’.
“I see that in Hojlund and some of the others. I can see them easily levelling up, but I feel for Zirkzee.”
Wright added: “United still need a striker. Whether they turn Marcus [Rashford] into that or they get a top striker in, they need one, to go alongside Hojlund and maybe for Hojlund to be the back-up.
“I’m trying to think of Ruben Amorim coming in and who he’s going to play. Zirkzee will need to go through some massive transformation to play in the team ahead of other players.
“He’s definitely not a natural goalscorer. I’m still waiting to see it from him.”