Manchester United manager Rúben Amorim has delivered a disappointing update regarding Joshua Zirkzee's fitness ahead of the crucial Europa League quarter-final second leg against Lyon.
Speaking after United's 4-1 defeat to Newcastle at St James' Park, Amorim revealed that Zirkzee is unlikely to feature in Thursday's showdown, stating, "Zirkzee vs Lyon? I think it's over."
The Dutch forward sustained a hamstring injury during the match against Newcastle, pulling up after a sprint in the second half. Zirkzee had to be substituted immediately, with Rasmus Højlund stepping in to replace him. This setback comes after Zirkzee's impressive performance in the first leg against Lyon, where he scored United's second goal in a 2-2 draw, heading home a cross from Bruno Fernandes.
In Sunday's Premier League clash, United initially showed promise as Sandro Tonali opened the scoring, but Newcastle equalized through Alejandro Garnacho before halftime. The second half saw Newcastle dominate, with Harvey Barnes netting twice and Bruno Guimarães adding a fourth, capitalizing on a mistake by United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir.
Amorim expressed frustration over his team's errors and emphasized the importance of regrouping for the upcoming European fixture. "We made many mistakes today, and Newcastle were stronger in second balls. It's hard to win against top teams when we help the opponent with errors. Let's focus on Thursday; it's a really important game for us," he said.
With the aggregate score tied at 2-2, Manchester United will need to overcome Lyon at Old Trafford to advance to the next stage of the Europa League. However, they will have to do so without Zirkzee, whose absence adds to the challenges facing Amorim's side.
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