Ruben Amorim has praised Joshua Zirkzee and said the reaction of Manchester United fans to the forward has been “very important” since he was substituted after 33 minutes in the 2-0 defeat at home to Newcastle on December 30.
Netherlands international Zirkzee notched his seventh goal of the season in all competitions to put United ahead in their 2-2 draw at Lyon in the Europa League on Thursday, three days before visiting Newcastle (16:30 BST), when the 23-year-old will attempt to score for the first time in 19 Premier League appearances if he features.
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“He’s doing a great job, but a very important thing was the way the fans reacted after that incident,” said Amorim, who replaced Zirkzee with Kobbie Mainoo after United had conceded twice inside the opening 19 minutes of the Portuguese’s fourth home league game in charge.
“You see every time, even if Josh is not playing, whether he gets on the pitch or is warming up, our fans sing the Josh song. That is massive for the players. It’s 50-50: 50% the fans, 50% Josh.”
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Joshua Zirkzee song
Zirkzee, who arrived from Italian club Bologna for £36.5 million in July, has been serenaded by supporters with a song to the tune of The White Stripes’ 2003 hit Seven Nation Army, which has become almost ubiquitously used at sporting events.
Fans sang the version dedicated to Zirkzee at United’s subsequent 2-2 draw at Liverpool despite the target of the chants only playing for four minutes at Anfield.
He has started 10 of United’s 18 matches since then, although last season’s Serie A Best Young Player scored four minutes after coming off the bench with the equaliser in the 2-1 home win over Leicester City in the FA Cup on February 7.
Zirkzee has two goals in his last three Europa League appearances and scored in the shootout as United won at Arsenal in the FA Cup on January 12, although he missed the final spot kick when they were eliminated by Fulham at home in the fifth round on March 2.
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Man United vs Lyon: Amorim ‘careful’
United looked to have won their quarter-final first leg against the French side when Zirkzee, who had replaced Rasmus Hojlund in the 63rd minute at the Groupama Stadium, headed in two minutes from the end of regular time.
Rayan Cherki capitalised on visiting goalkeeper Andre Onana spilling a shot to equalise five minutes into added time, and Amorim was asked whether the importance of the second leg at Old Trafford on Thursday (20:00) will affect his selections against Newcastle, with United having little to play for in the league.
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“Winning games is the best way of preparing for the next one,” said Amorim. “We are going to be careful with some players, but we need to be competitive.
“When you are playing for Manchester United, you cannot afford to be thinking about the next game. We have to think about the way we want to play these type of games, and we are being more consistent.”
Ruben discusses the availability of his squad before Newcastle away 🔜#MUFC || #PL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 11, 2025
Man United vs Newcastle: Fernandes ‘evaluation’
Bruno Fernandes set up Zirkzee’s latest goal and Amorim said an “evaluation” would take place over the fitness of the midfielder, who has been almost ever-present this season.
“We will make this evaluation with all the staff, with all the data we have,” said Amroim. “Bruno Fernandes is playing all the time and he’s playing better all the time.
“Sometimes this type of player has to play in every match, but we will address that on the day we have to prepare.”
Fifth-placed Newcastle have 15 more points than United in 13th and won a fourth consecutive match in all competitions by thrashing Leicester 3-0 away on Monday.
