New MU signing not playing in right position – 'I don't think that's his fault'

Manchester United new boy Joshua Zirkzee isn't a natural number nine, insists ex-Watford man Troy Deeney.

Zirkzee became the first major signing of the INEOS era at Old Trafford when he made the £36.5 million switch from Italian outfit Bologna this summer. His arrival helped fill the void left by the departing Anthony Martial.

The 23-year-old enjoyed a dream debut on the opening night of the Premier League season. Replacing Mason Mount just after the hour against Fulham, Zirkzee netted a dramatic 87th-minute winner to give Erik ten Hag three points to begin his third campaign at the helm.

However, in their 2-1 defeat to Brighton, and even more noticeably during the club's merciless 3-0 Liverpool defeat, Zirkzee's wasting of chances caught the eye. He struggled to get involved as much, especially while playing up top against Arne Slot'e team. And Deeney has stated he feels the Dutchman is playing in the wrong position when instructed to lead the line.

"I don't think Zirkzee is a striker," Deeney stated on David Seaman's Seaman Says podcast via Betway. "I always watch strikers, and he moves like a No. 10.

"He always wants to come off the top line to get involved, and he always arrives late to the box. I think with how they're playing, they need someone a bit Haaland-esque who doesn't really touch the ball much and is just always in the six-yard box, because there's so many times the ball flashes across the face and no one's in there.

"I don't think that's his fault. I think they're asking him to do a job that he's probably not used to. He's probably learning. Immensely talented player, though."

With Rasmus Hojlund, the obvious first-choice striker, sidelined to begin this campaign after picking up an injury in the Red Devils' pre-season clash against Arsenal, Ten Hag has essentially been left with nobody else to turn to other than Zirkzee.

Marcus Rashford simply isn't firing - quite literally, considering he has yet to register a single shot on goal in the club's opening three games. But with Bruno Fernandes occupying the No. 10 role that Zirkzee has been touted to prefer, the manager's hands are tied.

"I don't think they've got enough goals in the team to compete in the top four or five," Deeney continued, discussing United's chances in the league with their current crop of talent.

"When I look at that Man Utd squad, I don't know the dynamic. Who's their best winger right now? On paper, Rashford, but he's not showing it. Garnacho is young, Diallo is young as well.

"Then you've got Anthony, who they spent £80million on, and he doesn't seem to be able to make it off the bench. I did a piece when Sterling was linked and said that I think he's better than everyone they've got currently. Man Utd fans slated me. Arsenal went and signed him, so he can’t be that bad."

It will be interesting to see where Zirkzee is used – if at all – in United's next game after the international break at Southampton.