Man Utd striker Joshua Zirkzee opens up on struggles under Michael Carrick
Joshua Zirkzee has broken his silence regarding his challenging start to the campaign at Manchester United. The striker has found opportunities incredibly hard to come by under the stewardship of Michael Carrick this term.
Despite his domestic difficulties, the former Bologna and Bayern Munich attacker was handed a surprise international lifeline. He returned to the Netherlands setup over the course of the October international matches, featuring in two Nations League fixtures.
A sudden wake-up call
Zirkzee had previously slipped out of the national team picture entirely, even missing the Dutch side’s World Cup campaign during the summer. However, an injury to Sunderland forward Brian Brobbey opened up a slot in the squad.
Brobbey was forced off during the first half of a 1-1 draw with Germany last month. That left Netherlands boss Xavi short of options upfront, prompting him to reach out to the United forward.
The call-up was so unexpected that Zirkzee was actually asleep when the news broke. Speaking to ESPN, as reported by Voetbalzone, Zirkzee said:
“I was woken up by a friend and four hours later I was on a flight to Amsterdam,”
The forward admitted he was stunned to receive the nod from his national team manager, given his lack of regular action at club level. Discussing his surprise at the call-up, Zirkzee added:
“I absolutely did not expect a call. I am obviously not a starter, so it did give me a good feeling that the coach had confidence in me enough to call me up.”
Making an impact on the pitch
Zirkzee certainly made the most of his unexpected opportunity under Xavi. He came off the bench during a 2-2 draw with Greece at the Toumba Stadium, playing the final 20 minutes of the contest after being introduced in the second half.
He then made another substitute appearance in a 2-1 victory over Serbia at the Philips Stadium. Replacing Mexx Meerdink, the forward managed to find the back of the net to secure the win for Xavi’s side.
His goal came from close range, as he reacted quickest to steer home an effort from Tijjani Reijnders. Explaining his goal against Serbia, Zirkzee said:
“Even if it had gone in, I think Tijjani knows that I would have given it an extra tap,”
He further joked that the ball might have struck the woodwork had he not intervened. He noted that it was a well-constructed move and both he and Reijnders did well to put themselves in the correct position to make the chance count.
The struggle for minutes at Old Trafford
While his international exploits will provide a welcome confidence boost, Zirkzee faces a daunting task back in Manchester. The 25-year-old has endured a highly frustrating start to the 2026-27 campaign under Carrick, who has preferred other options.
Crucially, he has not been named in the starting line-up for a single match this season, leaving him on the fringes of the squad. With zero goals and zero assists to his name in a United shirt, the forward is firmly locked in a battle to convince Carrick he deserves a place in the first team.
He will hope his goalscoring display for his country can act as a turning point for his club career. Carrick’s side have had their own issues this term, and Zirkzee’s complete lack of involvement has raised eyebrows among some supporters.
The forward will be desperate to translate his international form back to the domestic stage when he returns to Carrington. United fans will be watching closely to see if his heroics in a orange shirt earn him a chance to shine in the Premier League.
