“He can do some really top things” – Carrick ready to unleash INEOS signing after deadline-day fiasco | OneFootball

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick promises Joshua Zirkzee increased minutes on the pitch after failing to seal a summer move.

The Dutchman has been an afterthought in the team since last season, as he was left starved of playing time, whether under Ruben Amorim or the current gaffer.

Despite being fully fit, the 25-year-old was an unused substitute in Man Utd’s first two official games of the season against Hull City and Ipswich Town.

Michael Carrick gives hope for Joshua Zirkzee

(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Following his omission, all signs pointed towards Zirkzee’s inevitable departure. After all, Carrick snubbed him even when Benjamin Sesko wasn’t fit enough to start, preferring to deploy Matheus Cunha, who originally plays on the left wing in the current system, as a centre-forward.

Zirkzee was the object of a deadline-day offer from Everton. However, INEOS turned down the offer, as the Toffees arrived too late, so there wasn’t enough time to find a suitable replacement.

Nevertheless, Carricks argues that the Dutch striker’s stay is far from a travesty, as he remains a content figure at Carrington and will eventually get his chance.

“Josh is important. It’s the team, the squad, the depth for the whole season. Josh is happy here,” said the 45-year-old in his pre-match press conference for the Everton game (via the Manchester Evening News).

“I have a really good relationship with him. He wants to play more than he has done. That’s the healthy competition for places.

“We have a lot of games coming up and a shorter period between games. Josh can do some really top things. I’ve seen it myself and I look forward to him doing it a little bit more.”

Can Zirkzee still rescue his Man Utd career?

(Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)

In his first two seasons at United, Zirkzee hasn’t quite met the expectations. Nevertheless, he remains a popular figure at the club, whether among his teammates or the Old Trafford faithful, who can often be heard chanting his name, sometimes when he isn’t even on the pitch.

The Netherlands international might not be the deadliest of strikers, but his unorthodox style makes him a treat to watch, at least when he’s in form.

Perhaps Carrick would have wanted a like-for-like backup for Sesko, which would have allowed him to maintain the same tactical scheme when the Slovenian is off the pitch.

However, Zirkzee represents a different weapon, one capable of breaking down defensive lines and drawing his markers out of their positions thanks to his unconventional movement and elegant touch.

Hence, it is up to the technical staff to figure out how to maximise the potential of a player who, for better or worse, is destined to dwell at the club, at least until January