Rene Meulensteen has insisted that the presence of Joshua Zirkzee could displace one talented Manchester United star from the starting XI under Erik ten Hag.
Netherlands striker Joshua Zirkzee arrived at Old Trafford this summer after Manchester United signed him from Serie A side Bologna in July.
Zirkzee, who United signed in a deal worth £36.54m, was absent from the pre-season tour this summer after representing the Netherlands at Euro 2024.
The 23-year-old Dutch forward was an unused substitute in United’s penalty shootout defeat to Manchester City in the Community Shield at Wembley.
Zirkzee had to settle for a place on the bench again for United’s opening Premier League match of the season against Fulham at Old Trafford last week.
However, the former Bologna man climbed off the bench in the second half and scored the winner for United on his debut appearance.
Meulensteen on Man Utd star’s ‘best position’
Rene Meulensteen has now admitted that Joshua Zirkzee’s place in the Manchester United starting XI could have a knock-on effect on one of his teammates.
Erik ten Hag deployed Bruno Fernandes in a false nine type of role in the 1-0 win over Fulham due to the absence of Denmark striker Rasmus Hojlund.
Rasmus Hojlund is expected to be out of action for six weeks and is likely to return after the September international break following his injury on the pre-season tour.
Erik ten Hag was forced to withdraw the 21-year-old Danish forward in the first half of the 2-1 friendly defeat to Arsenal in the United States last month.
Bruno Fernandes played up top against Fulham with Mason Mount behind him, with Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo deployed on the left and right wings respectively.
Meulensteen claimed that Mason Mount would likely lose his place in the starting XI if – and when – Ten Hag starts summer signing Zirkzee.
“Unfortunately, yes [Mount will drop out of the side],” he told the Metro.
“You’re not dropping Bruno. He needs the freedom to play in those spaces.
“The problem with Mason is central is his best position, he is best equipped there but Bruno will stay there. He’s [Mount] the one [who] will come out.”
Meulensteen on Mount and Man Utd
Mason Mount arrived at Old Trafford last summer after United signed him from Chelsea for £55m, with a further £5m agreed in add-ons.
However, the 25-year-old former Chelsea ace’s debut season at Old Trafford was underwhelming and curtailed by injuries.
Mount only managed 14 Premier League appearances and scored once last season, with the United star only starting five league matches in the 2023-24 campaign.
Meulensteen waxed lyrical about the England international’s work rate and said he “needs to be taking” his chances if he wants to be “really cementing his place” in the team.
“I would have loved to see him take that chance because he is crying out for that at the moment,” he continued.
“That’s his strength, making those runs into the box, he is so hard to mark.
“That’s his thing, coming short, putting those chances away. If he was doing that, then it would be a much harder decision.
“If he was scoring, then you keep him playing then maybe shift Bruno wide. You cannot question Mason’s work rate, he does a lot of good stuff for the team but to be really cementing his place in the team, he needs to be taking those chances.”
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/R5tU4wb