In a Monday night clash against Newcastle, Manchester United's Joshua Zirkzee was substituted after just 33 minutes and was met with boos from his own supporters. This was followed by a jacket-over-the-head appearance on the subs' bench, leaving United legend Gary Neville feeling sorry for the player and questioning the fans' treatment. Despite the substitution, Newcastle held onto their 2-0 lead at half-time with goals from Alexander Isak and Joelinton.
Joshua Zirkzee's Nightmare Night at Manchester United
Manchester United's disappointing start to the season took a dramatic turn on Monday night when on-loan striker Joshua Zirkzee was substituted after just 33 minutes against Newcastle United and met with boos from his own supporters.
Background
Zirkzee, 21, joined United from Bayern Munich in the summer on a season-long loan deal. The Dutch forward had impressed while on loan at Anderlecht last season, scoring 18 goals in 39 appearances.
However, Zirkzee has struggled to make an impact at Old Trafford, with just one goal in 13 appearances. His performance against Newcastle was particularly poor, as he failed to create any chances and was caught offside several times.
The Substitution and Fan Reaction
After just 33 minutes, United manager Erik ten Hag decided to substitute Zirkzee with Anthony Martial. The decision was met with loud boos from the United fans, who had been frustrated by Zirkzee's performance.
Zirkzee's reaction to the substitution was also notable. He walked slowly off the pitch and appeared to be in tears as he sat down on the substitutes' bench. At one point, he put his jacket over his head, seemingly to hide his emotions.
Gary Neville's Criticism
United legend Gary Neville, who was working as a pundit for Sky Sports, was critical of the fans' treatment of Zirkzee.
"I feel sorry for the kid," Neville said. "He's been thrown in at the deep end and he's not getting any help from the fans. They're booing him every time he touches the ball. It's not fair on him."
Newcastle's Victory
Despite Zirkzee's substitution, Newcastle held onto their 2-0 lead at half-time. Alexander Isak opened the scoring for the Magpies after just two minutes, and Joelinton doubled their advantage in the 33rd minute.
Newcastle went on to win the match 3-0, with a second-half goal from Miguel Almiron.
Top 5 FAQs about Joshua Zirkzee and Manchester United
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