Update: ‘Massive for the boy’ – the turning point for Joshua Zirkzee at Manchester United News

Joshua Zirkzee scored his seventh goal for Man United at Lyon and is set to come up against the team he was substituted against on 33 minutes.

Ruben Amorim has credited the Manchester United matchgoers with helping Joshua Zirkzee to turn his season around.

Zirkzee was heckled and booed by thousands of United fans after he was substituted in the 33rd minute of their 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle on December 30.

In United’s next game at Anfield, Zirkzee was serenaded by United fans in the away end as he warmed up. The Dutchman has since developed a borderline cult following among the United fanbase, scoring the winning penalty in the FA Cup third round tie against Arsenal.

Zirkzee could start in the reverse fixture at St James’ Park on Sunday, having come on to score in United’s 2-2 Europa League quarter-final draw with Lyon in midweek.

The 23-year-old has only scored three goals this calendar year and his header against Lyon was his seventh for United. Amorim has predominantly played Zirkzee as one of the two playmakers in his 3-4-2-1 system since the turn of the year but the Netherlands international could replace the misfiring Rasmus Hojlund at Newcastle.

“Yes, he is doing a great job,” Amorim said. “But also a very important thing was the way the fans reacted after that incident.

“Even if Josh is not playing, if you see every time he gets on the pitch or is just warming up our fans sing the Josh song. That is massive for the boy. So it’s 50-50. 50 per cent the fans and 50 per cent on the part of Josh.

“What did I do to help him? The same thing. I explained the situation. As a former player, I wanted to hear some explanation from the coaches on that.

“I just want to help the team and then work with him. All the work that all the staff is doing with him and he is improving, and then put it into play. This is the only way to show confidence in him.”

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