Joshua Zirkzee was cheered off by Man Utd fans at Old Trafford (Image: VIAPLAY)
Joshua Zirkzee was brutally booed off by his own supporters after being substituted midway through the first half of ‘s Monday night clash against .
Zirkzee was hooked after just 33 minutes with Kobbie Mainoo coming on to try and bring United some extra control in midfield, with the Magpies leading 2-0 at Old Trafford at the time.
And 23-year-old summer signing Zirkzee, brought in by for £36.5million from Bologna, was jeered off before grabbing a coat and heading straight down the players’ tunnel.
United legend , on ‘ commentary, said: “I actually feel sorry for him, I really do. I know he’s earning a lot of money here but there is a human being in there who is basically being cheered off by his own fans and that is brutal.
“I’ve not seen that too many times at Old Trafford in the 43 years I’ve been coming here.”
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There were more boos, mixed with some applause from the Stretford End, when Zirzkee reached the mouth of the tunnel. The striker re-emerged several minutes later with the hood of his jacket over his head and he took a spot on the subs’ bench.
Neville added: “It’s a brutal one for him [Zirkzee]. I don’t suspect he went back to get a Lucozade.”
Goals from Alexander Isak and Joelinton gave the Magpies a 2-0 advantage heading into half-time with the Magpies much the better side for most of the first 45.
Without a win at Old Trafford since 2013, spurned further opportunities to increase their lead in the first half. The Red Devils wasted brilliant chances themselves through and Casemiro.
Zirkzee has found life in Manchester difficult since joining. The Netherlands international scored the winning goal on his debut against Fulham at Old Trafford in mid-August but since then he has added just three goals and two assists in 25 appearances across all competitions.
Joshua Zirkzee was booed while being substituted off (Image: SKY SPORTS)
Joshua Zirkzee headed straight down the tunnel after coming off (Image: GETTY)
There have been rumours he could be moved on by new manager in the January transfer window.
The Portuguese coach singled the forward out for criticism after his very first match in charge, a 1-1 draw away at relegation-threatened Ipswich Town. The United boss told Sky Sports: “I think that [decision-making] is a concern, you don’t need to coach them at this level.
“You have to keep the ball and know the momentum to put the ball in front. Sometimes you feel that you can’t keep the ball and you [have to] put the ball in front. Then you have like we are in the end of the game, we were around the box with two strikers.
“Josh [Zirkzee] has to understand that he has to go to the box to have the crosses. So we are doing some things that were not at the right moment, so that is something we have to address.
“Sometimes people talk about the 3-4-3, that is not the concern, the system is the system but the understanding of the game is what we have to improve a lot in this area.”
Joshua Zirkzee later re-emerged with his hood up and a Lucozade in his hand (Image: SKY SPORTS)
The Dutch player has started three of seven matches since then, but was brought off after 54 minutes in the 3-0 defeat at Bournemouth before being subbed even earlier here.
Under Amorim, Zirkzee scored twice in a 4-0 thrashing of Everton on December 1 and scored in the 4-3 Carabao Cup quarter-final loss to before Christmas.
The United manager is expected to be asked questions about the striker’s future after the full-time whistle against .