OLD TRAFFORD — A quick search of Joshua Zirkzee’s name on social media brings up very different results than 10 weeks ago.
Booed by his own supporters after being subbed in the first half against Newcastle, five months after signing, Zirkzee could have been forgiven for giving up on his Manchester United career before it had even began.
The young Dutchman was visibly buoyant after getting his dream move to Old Trafford as part of a young forward line that promised to inspire United to a brighter future. It seems somewhat remarkable that the club’s summer transfer business, at the time, was widely regarded as a roaring success.
A goal on debut for Zirkzee, a fine finish to secure a late season-opening victory over Fulham, did little to temper any excitement. Talk after the match was just what role the 23-year-old was going to fulfil – he wasn’t a number nine or a No 10 but revelled in being described as a “9.5”.
As the boos rung out in late December 33 minutes in, a clearly distressed Zirkzee seemed destined to become the latest young talent to be wasted where careers go to flop: Old Trafford.
Yet, with supporters performing an about-turn and backing Zirkzee more than others in recent weeks, the improvements have been clear for all to see, culminating in a resurrection of biblical proportions against Real Sociedad as United marched on in the only competition that can save their unflattering campaign.
Despite his early struggles, the effort – something conspicuous by its absence among many of his team-mates – has not diminished.
A second goal since mid-December in San Sebastian in the first leg last week, to help keep United’s European dream, and only route back to Europe’s top table, alive was as timely as it was deserved, after Zirkzee had just suffered another setback – missing the final shootout penalty in United’s Fulham cup defeat.
The touches. The creative flair. The willingness to run at defenders. The fact Zirkzee, after all he has been through, could put on such a performance of swagger in the crucial return leg, in this beleaguered team that often seems stuck in some sort of dystopian nightmare, especially domestically, deserves the utmost acclaim.
“He is more aggressive when he doesn’t have the ball, and that will help him when he does have it,” Ruben Amorim said. “He is class, he has the talent. But he can be more direct. Sometimes he needs to think more as a striker, I need to score, no matter what.
One particular moment on Thursday night, however, suggested a revitalised Zirkzee can have that impact Amorim is crying out for.
With Sociedad sitting deep, their early opener from the penalty spot cancelled out by another spot kick, expertly converted by hat-trick hero Bruno Fernandes, Zirkzee plucked the ball out of the air like he had some sort of gravitational pull over it, before sashaying past two defenders.
Having got to the byline, he still had the awareness to pick out Rasmus Hojlund, who somehow contrived to miss from inside the six-yard box.
The second half, Zirkzee the showman came out to play. Old Trafford purred as he tried to set Patrick Dorgu free with the kind of sumptuous pass few are capable of even seeing, never mind executing, early in the second half, with Jon Aramburu’s sending off as he brought Dorgu down effectively ending the encounter as a contest.
That inability to make chances count in the rest of the second half Amorim was eluding to tarnished an all-action display, but, perhaps some, this writer included, still owe Zirkzee an apology.
With Marcus Rashford and Antony gone, and Amad Diallo out for the season, Zirkzee has played every week, from the start. There’s been no time to settle into new surroundings, an elevated standard of football or an alien country.
Had he left in January, there would have been few disappointed by such an early exit. Now, the fleet-footed comeback kid has as good a chance as any of leading any United season salvation.
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