Joshua Zirkzee despatched message over Man Utd future after troublesome begin

On Nov 6, 2024

Gary Pallister has told Manchester United flop Joshua Zirkzee he has a lot to learn to become a success in English football.

Zirkzee joined United from Bologna last summer in a £36.5m deal. But the Holland international has become a figure of fun at United, in the wake of some under-par performances.

The forward has scored just one goal in his first 15 appearances in all competitions. Former United favourite Pallister is confident Zirkzee can still prove a hit with the fallen giants, provided he adapts to the demands of English football.

Pallister told Lucky Block : “Joshua Zirkzee doesn’t look like an out-and-out Premier League striker to me. He’s got some good technical ability, but it’s very early in his Premier League career and he just needs to get used to it.

“It’s a bit like watching Rasmus Hojlund in his first season at the club last year. A lot of players who join from overseas are surprised by the speed of the Premier League, and that’s caught Zirkzee off guard.

“I’ve seen him come on and play a couple of cameo roles, and he’s done fairly well. He’s got some decent vision and nice touches, but he’s not the finished article yet and hopefully he can watch and learn in order to improve.”

Pallister, meanwhile, admits United defender Lisandro Martinez reminds him of his former team-mates Roy Keane and Bryan Robson. He added: “I love his tenacity. He reminds me of both Roy Keane and Bryan Robson.

“You need those type of fighters and scrappers who play on the edge and get the crowd going. He’s a player that gets the rest of the team up for games, so if you’re going to pick up red cards on the side then so be it.

“His tenacity and ability on the ball should be admired, he’s one of the best passers of the ball at the club and you can tell he fights for the shirt every game.”

Manchester United FC Premier League