Zirkzee's 'brutal' treatment by Man Utd fans leaves Neville feeling 'sorry for him'

Joshua Zirkzee had a nightmare during Manchester United’s clash against Newcastle on Monday night, as he was substituted midway through the first half and jeered off by his own supporters.

The 23-year-old forward, signed for £36.5 million from Bologna in the summer, was replaced by Kobbie Mainoo after just 33 minutes with United trailing 2-0.

Fans at Old Trafford expressed their frustration, booing Zirkzee as he left the pitch. He grabbed a coat and headed straight down the players’ tunnel, a decision that drew mixed reactions from the Stretford End, where some boos were interspersed with light applause.

United legend Gary Neville, speaking on Sky Sports commentary, remarked: “I actually feel sorry for him, I really do.

"I know he’s earning a lot of money here, but there is a human being in there who is basically being cheered off by his own fans, and that is brutal.”

Neville added: “It’s a brutal one for him [Zirkzee]. I don’t suspect he went back to get a Lucozade.”

Zirkzee reappeared a few minutes later with his hood up and took a spot on the substitutes’ bench.

Newcastle were the better side for most of the first half, with goals from Alexander Isak and Joelinton giving them a commanding 2-0 lead at the break.

The Magpies could have extended their advantage further, while United squandered golden opportunities through Rasmus Hojlund and Casemiro.

Zirkzee’s struggles have been evident since his arrival at United. While the Netherlands international scored the winning goal on his debut against Fulham in August, his form has since nosedived, managing just three goals and two assists in 25 appearances across all competitions.

Rumours suggest he could be offloaded by manager Ruben Amorim in the January transfer window.

Amorim has previously been critical of Zirkzee’s performances, notably after his managerial debut, a 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town. Speaking to Sky Sports, the Portuguese coach said:

“I think that [decision-making] is a concern; you don’t need to coach them at this level. You have to keep the ball and know the momentum to put the ball in front. Sometimes you feel that you can’t keep the ball, and you [have to] put the ball in front.

“Then, like at the end of the game, we were around the box with two strikers. Josh [Zirkzee] has to understand that he has to go to the box to have the crosses.

"We are doing some things that were not at the right moment, so that is something we have to address.

“Sometimes people talk about the 3-4-3, that is not the concern. The system is the system, but the understanding of the game is what we have to improve a lot in this area.”

Zirkzee has started only three of the seven Premier League matches since Amorim’s arrival. He was substituted after 54 minutes in a 3-0 loss to Bournemouth earlier this season and taken off even earlier against Newcastle.

Despite his struggles, Zirkzee has shown glimpses of potential, scoring twice in a 4-0 win over Everton on December 1 and netting in a 4-3 Carabao Cup loss to Tottenham before Christmas.

With questions surrounding his future, Amorim is likely to face scrutiny over Zirkzee’s role in the team during his post-match comments following the Newcastle defeat.