Man United boss Ruben Amorim hints at Erik ten Hag agreement after brutal decision

Erik ten Hag’s doubts about Joshua Zirkzee are now being mirrored by his Manchester United successor, Ruben Amorim, as shown by the new head coach’s actions against Newcastle.

Zirkzee was the first signing of the new INEOS regime in the summer. Having shown promise in Serie A with then-high-flying Bologna and even making the team of the season, he seemed set to bring a dynamic and versatile element to Ten Hag's attacking line.

But just five months on, with Amorim now at the helm and Zirkzee only managing four goals across all competitions, his work ethic and consistency have been called into question. His already dire situation worsened during Monday's game against Newcastle when he was substituted after just 33 minutes with United trailing 2-0.

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Amorim's bold decision may have been an attempt to change the game's trajectory, but it also hinted that he, too, is uncertain about the striker, who was reportedly not Ten Hag's preferred signing.

Earlier in the season, The Sun reported that Ten Hag was unhappy with Zirkzee's signing, as the forward was not his preferred choice and arrived in less-than-ideal physical shape.

Zirkzee scored only once under Ten Hag before Amorim took over. Despite scoring three more goals since then, Calciomercato reports that the Portuguese head coach is not particularly fond of the 23-year-old and would consider letting him go in January.

Ten Hag’s rumoured opinions of Zirkzee have now resurfaced in the aftermath of his nightmare against Newcastle, where the Dutch forward was reportedly reduced to