Joshua Zirkzee was sadly forced off injured during Manchester United’s embarrassing 4-1 defeat at Newcastle last weekend, and it has come at an extremely difficult time.
Already stretched with absences, Manchester United have now lost someone who has been a key player for them of late ahead of a season-defining Europa League second leg against Olympique Lyonnais.
It was Zirkzee who scored United’s second goal in Lyon, probably the high point of his United career so far, coming off the bench to head in a brilliant Bruno Fernandes cross at the back post.
The Dutchman has excelled playing as a number 10 for Ruben Amorim, and has been growing into the centre forward role too – now better executing the Portuguese coach’s demands from that role.
Rasmus Højlund will of course take on the centre forward role for as long as Zirkzee is out, but his absence presents a big opportunity for Mason Mount to finally make his mark in a Manchester United shirt.
Quality suppressed by injury
Mason Mount is a very talented footballer; it’s extremely evident. Erik ten Hag loved him, and Amorim clearly loves him, too.
When you look at what he brings to the table, it’s easy to see why. The Englishman is technically very sound, dynamic, and works relentlessly with incredible spatial intelligence. He can play in a number of different positions at a good level, and his attitude and personal traits raise the standards in United’s squad.
Unfortunately, he has never really been able to show all of this in a Manchester United shirt. United’s number seven hasn’t struggled due to a lack of quality; he has not been able to put together a run of games at United without getting injured.
When Mount played for United, he performed well and showed glimpses of what he could bring to the team in a few different roles. Of late, Amorim has ignored calls to start the player, instead confining him to a bench role since his return earlier this month.
The injuries are not a case of him not taking care of himself either, as the head coach has reported many times that he tries his absolute hardest to get fit and play for the team.
The ideal Zirkzee replacement?
Mason Mount has been a key player in a Champions League-winning side playing in one of the ‘dual 10’ positions when Thomas Tuchel was in charge of Chelsea.
Whilst Amorim’s system is not the same as Tuchel’s, Mount has showcased his versatility and ability to perform different functions in a team to a good level and has many of the qualities that fit Amorim’s demands for the number 10, such as his ability to carry the ball and play in tight spaces.
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With Zirkzee now out, possibly for the season, Mount is arguably the ideal player to step into the role in which Zirkzee was doing so well. Mount can even bring more than Zirkzee in some aspects, such as pressing. But this is all conditional on the Englishman being able to keep fit.
With United’s entire season, and consequently next season or two, being on the line with this fixture, Thursday night’s game is precisely the time for someone to step up under the Old Trafford lights and be a hero.
After a troubled United career so far, now would be a fantastic time for Mount to make his Manchester United mark, and Zirkzee’s injury presents him with a significant opportunity to do so.
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