Tony Mogan
Published November 24, 2025 11:21pm
Updated November 24, 2025 11:21pm
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Owen didn’t see enough from the forward against Everton (Picture: Getty Images)
Michael Owen has taken aim at Joshua Zirkzee after Manchester United’s defeat to Everton, insisting he is a player ‘that doesn’t excite me at all.’
United fell to a humiliating defeat to Everton at Old Trafford on Monday night with the Toffees playing the vast majority of the game with 10 men.
Idrissa Gueye was sent off after slapping teammate Michael Keane but the visitors were deserved winners on the night with United laboured and devoid of ideas on the night.
United are without Benjamin Sesko for a number of weeks after a knee injury he suffered before the international break against Tottenham.
Matheus Cunha was expected to come into the side to replace him but a minor head injury ruled him out over the weekend.
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Zikrzee started his first game of the season in their place but looked off the pace for most of the game.
The Dutchman was on the end of two headers late on as his side desperately chased an equaliser with one of them drawing a superb save out of Jordan Pickford.
Zirkzee started up front with Sesko and Cunha out (Picture: Getty)
But former United striker Owen believes the performance demonstrated why Zirkzee is ‘not the right profile’ for what Amorim is trying to achieve.
‘I can’t watch him and get excited, I must admit,’ Owen told Premier League Productions.
‘Cunha missing today was a big blow. He [Zirkzee] was the closest to scoring for Man Utd but they are almost resorting to playing like this with hopeful crosses because he’s in there.
Zirkzee started his first game of the season (Picture: Getty)
‘If you have Cunha playing, a different profile of player, you probably don’t go knocking crosses in all game.
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‘It’s not how Manchester United want to play and I always think if you start lumping the ball it becomes desperation.
‘One or two landed on Zirkzee’s head but the way Man Utd are playing prior to tonight, it’s not the right profile of player, he doesn’t excite me at all.’
United will hope to have Cunha available this weekend ahead of a difficult trip to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace.
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