Joshua Zirkzee despatched message over ‘terrible’ Man Utd jeers – ‘all of us deserved to get booed’

Harry Maguire has told Joshua Zirkzee that Manchester United fans will get players through dark moments, even though he’s gone through tough times at Old Trafford himself

Harry Maguire has told Joshua Zirkzee he still has the full backing of the Manchester United dressing room.

Zirkzee was left distraught two weeks ago when subbed off before half time in United’s home defeat to Newcastle. He was jeered by his own supporters and found himself close to tears en-route to the dressing room.

But Zirkzee went from zero to hero after scoring the winning penalty in United’s FA Cup win at old rivals Arsenal on Sunday. He celebrated the moment in front of travelling supporters – and Maguire has told him United fans will get players through dark moments.

Maguire said: “I’ve had a time for this club where things are tough, and everyone seems to be against you. But one thing’s for sure is that the United fans stick with you. When times were tough, they stuck with me.

“That game against Newcastle he was the unfortunate one to get subbed off. You could have subbed any of the 11 players off at that moment in time and they would have all got booed, because we all deserved to get booed because we were awful in the first 30 minutes.

“It had nothing to do really with Josh. He probably knows that and he probably felt it at the time, even though it was disappointing for him. It’s a great ending that he scores that winning penalty – and the lads had full faith in him that he does.”

United, who are currently 13th in the Premier League table, next play on Thursday evening when they host relegation battlers Southampton at Old Trafford.

They then face Brighton & Hove Albion at home on Sunday afternoon, before welcoming Glasgow Rangers to Old Trafford in the Europa League next week, ahead of a trip to Fulham the following weekend.