MANCHESTER UNITED have been dealt a fresh injury blow ahead of their huge Europa League showdown with Lyon on Thursday.
Joshua Zirkzee appeared to clutch his hamstring after hitting the deck during United’s clash with Newcastle.
PAJoshua Zirkzee was forced out of Man Utd’s clash with Newcastle[/caption]
GettyThe Dutchman looked devastated before being helped from the field[/caption]
Sky SportsZirkzee went down clutching his hamstring and needed help to walk[/caption]
The 23-year-old had been enjoying a strong performance in the North East.
But he fell to the floor shortly after the break at St James Park.
Zirkzee was seen clutching the back of his leg with the Red Devils trailing 2-1.
He was aided by Toon forward Joelinton and following treatment had to be helped from the field by medics.
United boss Ruben Amorim was seen with his head in his hands on the touchline.
Rasmus Hojlund was called from the bench to replace the Dutchman and is now United’s only fit striker.
One United fan groaned on X: “Zirkzee, by far, United’s best number 9 at the club. Now injured ahead of the most important game of the season. Absolutely awful.”
Another said: “Zirkzee gonna leave us with hojlund bro.”
BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK
While a third added: “Losing Zirkzee for Thursday is gutting. Having to rely on Hojlund will be like playing with 10 men.”
And a fourth commented: “Tbf I don’t care about the result, I expected it anyway but the Zirkzee injury is an absolute disaster.”
United welcome Lyon to Old Trafford on Thursday with the tie poised at 2-2.
Goalkeeper Andre Onana committed two howlers and paid with his place in the starting XI on Sunday.
The Cameroon international stayed back in the North West as the squad travelled to Tyneside on Saturday evening.
Man Utd ratings vs Lyon as two Onana blunders earn under-fire keeper a ONE out of 10
MANCHESTER UNITED were left ruing calamity goalkeeper Andre Onana as two massive blunders saw them leave their Europa League quarter-final first leg with a 2-2 draw against Lyon.
The season-defining clash for both clubs became even spicier ahead of the game following a war words between Onana and ex-Red Devils star Nemanja Matic, with the Serbian dubbing the goalkeeper “one of the worst in United history”.
It certainly riled up the home side’s crowd, who made their voices known as Ruben Amorim named an unchanged team – for the first time since his arrival – from the Manchester derby.
But Onana was found wanting when he failed to save Thiago Almada’s inswinging free-kick to give the hosts the lead.
Leny Yoro nodded in an equaliser just before the interval after Manuel Ugarte‘s volley.
And Joshua Zirkzee looked to have won the game for the visitors with his late header converting a Fernandes cross.
But United’s joy was short-lived as Onana parried a shot straight to Rayan Cherki in added time, and the midfielder tapped in to leave the tie on a knife-edge.
Here’s how SunSport’s Tony Robertson rated the Red Devils in France…
Onana’s snub comes after SunSport exclusively revealed some team-mates wanted him AXED after his Europa League blunders.
But he’s been told by Amorim he is being rested and will be back in the team for the return leg against the French giants.
Turkish understudy Altay Bayindir made his Prem debut but had a day to forget, with Harvey Barnes and Sandre Tonali finding the net.
Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
