)
The Dutch manager has announced when the summer arrival will feature in a competitive match for the Red Devils.
Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has hinted that new signing Joshua Zirkzee could make his Premier League debut in the season opener against Fulham on Friday.
The 23-year-old Dutch forward joined United from Bologna earlier this summer but has yet to feature for his new club due to a combination of injury and international commitments.
)
Zirkzee's arrival has been delayed by injuries sustained at Bologna and his participation in the European Championship with the Netherlands. This has limited his training time with United and hindered his integration into the team.
What Ten Hag said about Zirkzee’s possible Man Utd debut
PAY ATTENTION: Join the BETTING PROF Telegram channel now
However, Ten Hag believes Zirkzee is nearing full fitness and could be ready to contribute to the team.
“I think he is close so that is one of the complications,” said the United boss ahead of Fulham’s visit to Old Trafford. “We didn’t have a pre-season with him so we need games to bring him.
“If you see his background, in the last months he had an injury with Bologna, in the end, he made the selection for the Netherlands, so that had him out of our first few weeks of pre-season, so no games — that is his problem at this moment.
“But now it is his third week in training, you see him stepping up, his fitness levels are improving and he needs more minutes and we can’t do it in a friendly, it has to go into the league.”
)
With Rasmus Hojlund sidelined due to injury, Zirkzee is likely to be the only senior striker available to face Fulham.
Ten Hag expressed his confidence in both Zirkzee and Hojlund as potential future stars, highlighting their talent and potential for growth.
“I think we have two young strikers who have the potential to grow into top-class strikers in Hojlund and Zirkzee,” the Dutch manager Hag added.
)
16:33 - 15.08.2024
Manchester United vs Fulham: Preview, team news & line-ups
The new English Premier League season gets underway on Friday with Manchester United hosting Fulham at Old Trafford.
)
09:09 - 14.08.2024
Matthijs de Ligt points out why he joined Manchester United
The Dutchman reunited with Erik ten Hag by moving to Manchester after two seasons with Bayern Munich.
What comes next?
Ten Hag confirmed that fellow new signings Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui will be in the Red Devils squad to play Fulham on Friday (today).
Manchester United lost the corresponding fixture last season 2-1 with Alex Iwobi notching a last-gasp winner in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)