Ruben Amorim must change his approach with Manchester United strikers before it's too late

It can't have done the already fragile confidence of Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund much good to see a midfielder starting as Manchester United's striker ahead of them last weekend.

The Kobbie Mainoo experiment didn't work for United beyond a bright opening 10 minutes, and Zirkzee and Hojlund were eventually called on simultaneously. Their introduction didn't change the game; it was another Old Trafford defeat for Ruben Amorim's side.

In hindsight, there may have been something in this selection coming the day before deadline day. It was Amorim's last throw of the dice. The modern-day equivalent of Harry Redknapp winding down his window to speak to the TV cameras at the training ground of whatever club he was in charge of.

Amorim could have been making a point. Neither of my strikers is up to the job, so I'm playing a midfielder there. Sort it out by tomorrow. If so, the message didn't get through. United failed with late moves for Christopher Nkunku and Mathys Tel, and they will limp on for the rest of the season with just four forwards in the squad.

Amad and Alejandro Garnacho seem too valuable as No. 10s to be played as No. 9s, and it's safe to assume the Mainoo experiment is unlikely to be repeated. So, for the remainder of this season, it is Hojund or Zirkzee for Amorim, starting with Leicester City in the FA Cup on Friday night.

So far, it seems Amorim prefers Hojlund. The Dane has started 12 games under the Portuguese head coach, and Zirkzee just six. But there has been rotation. Hojlund has completed 90 minutes only three times under Amorim and Zirkzee once.

Both are out of form at the moment. The Danish striker hasn't scored since December 12, and Zirkzee last scored on December 19. You can see why Amorim