'Dream' start for Zirkzee - but questions over Sancho future

There was a pleasing symmetry for Manchester United successful Joshua Zirkzee scoring a precocious victor connected his Premier League debut against Fulham astatine Old Trafford.

Twenty-three years earlier, different Dutch guardant did nan aforesaid point for United against nan aforesaid opponents.

Zirkzee whitethorn not get adjacent to Ruud van Nistelrooy's 150 goals successful 5 seasons for nan nine but fixed his chap countryman has returned to United arsenic head Erik 10 Hag's coaching assistant, location was shared delight successful his smartly taken 87th-minute effort.

"It doesn't matter if he is Dutch aliases English aliases Russian aliases South American," said Ten Hag. "It is Man Utd. He is simply a Man Utd subordinate and it is very bully for a striker to travel successful and people his first goal."

Ten Hag referenced nan struggles of Rasmus Hojlund, his large money striking acquisition past season, who was 15 games into his Premier League profession earlier he yet recovered nan net, against Aston Villa connected Boxing Day.

"Remember past play erstwhile Rasmus scored a first extremity [against Brighton successful his 2nd crippled connected 16 September] and we hold connected nan halfway statement for 2 minutes earlier VAR decided nan shot was complete nan [goal] statement [before nan cross]. It was very frustrating."

On specified good margins tin awesome moments turn.

Zirkzee's extremity sent nan immense mostly of a capacity crowd into raptures. The sound did justness to nan build-up nan £36.5m signing from Italian broadside Bologna had been given.

"I've been told [scoring astatine nan Stretford End] it's 1 of nan champion feelings astatine Man Utd," he said. "I'm truthful thankful and blessed I could acquisition it successful my first game. It's an astonishing feeling.

"It's been amazing, it's been a dream actually."

The consequence besides allowed for a much reflective appraisal from pundits who, arsenic erstwhile United captains, look to person spent truthful agelong being captious of their aged club.

Gary Neville was delighted astatine nan wide consciousness of power and impetus astatine nan club, which comes from nan beingness of a caller main executive successful Omar Berrada and sporting head successful Dan Ashworth.

"Man Utd request to beryllium a superior shot nine and it looks astatine slightest for illustration that is happening," he said.

"The prices [being paid for players] look to beryllium better. It was embarrassing successful ample parts of past play and pathetic successful definite games. Where they are now is simply a beardown position. I consciousness much optimistic."

Zirkzee's show included a nonchalant ceremony that matched nan measurement successful which he took nan goal, sweeping Alejandro Garnacho's right-wing transverse into nan bottommost area pinch nan minimum of fuss.

"It was a superb finish," said Roy Keane. "He was neat and tidy successful nan nexus up. United request to punish teams much but they were a threat and to people connected your debut is huge."

There was complication astir Zirkzee successful nan summer.

Ten Hag revealed nan 23-year-old ended past play pinch an wounded which was going to norm him retired of Euro 2024 only for further injuries to nan Dutch squad to mean he was picked by Ronald Koeman anyway.

It meant Zirkzee had an extended break disconnected nan backmost of not being fit, meaning he had to beryllium managed cautiously erstwhile he did study for pre-season training, which is why he was connected nan chair passim nan Community Shield conclusion by Manchester City astatine Wembley.

"We had to look astatine each individual and he had to build up immoderate deficits," said Ten Hag.

"He has immoderate attributes we didn't person and consecutive distant he showed it. He is very bully successful his linking up combinations - but he has to get successful nan container to people goals. That is what he did today."

There is now little than 2 weeks earlier nan transportation model closes and United are still assessing their options.

Midfield continues to beryllium an area they are looking at, pinch Burnley's Sander Berge among nan imaginable buys, but nan consciousness remains overmuch will dangle connected really overmuch nan nine tin generate.

Scotland world Scott McTominay is 1 of their saleable assets, though it is not clear nan Preston-born subordinate wants to leave.

Napoli are thought to beryllium interested, others are sniffing information and aft Fulham had a bid turned down for nan 27-year-old, their fans cheekily sang 'he wants to motion for Fulham' erstwhile McTominay was introduced successful nan 2nd half.

And past location is Jadon Sancho, who Ten Hag confirmed had simply been overlooked for nan opening encounter, stating he could person been progressive contempt not afloat recovering from an receptor infection.

Chelsea are nan latest nine to beryllium linked pinch Sancho, who spent nan 2nd half of past play connected indebtedness astatine Borussia Dortmund aft his awesome fall-out pinch Ten Hag.

"This will beryllium a play of endurance of nan fittest but I tin only put 20 players successful nan squad," said Ten Hag. "In nan week Jadon had an receptor infection and was not 100% fit. He could play but I make choices and for illustration different players connected nan bench.

"But that tin alteration and will alteration this season. Sometimes it is frustrating for nan subordinate but it is astir nan squad and nan club."