Joshua Zirkee has openly recognised that the onus is on him regarding his limited playing time at Manchester United. The 25-year-old forward knows that to get more minutes from manager Michael Carrick, he must take better advantage of his opportunities.
This season, Zirkee has managed only four appearances across all competitions, racking up a mere 70 minutes of action. Despite this, he recently received a surprising call-up to the Netherlands national squad following an injury to Brian Brobbey.
Having not featured for his country since November 2024, Zirkee was brought on in matches against Greece and Serbia by new head coach Xavi, and he made a significant impact by scoring his second goal for the Netherlands in a 2-1 victory over Serbia.
Reflecting on the goal, Zirkee noted:
Even if the ball was heading for goal, I think Tijjani Reijnders knows that I made another touch for reassurance. Otherwise, I think he could have hit the post. It was a great attack, and it was fantastic that we both ended up in the right place.
According to the forward, Xavi cited his good work with the ball, despite his lack of club playing time, as a reason for his inclusion in the squad.
Zirkee admitted:
The competition at Manchester United is tough, and I mostly come on as a substitute. Ultimately, it’s up to me to change that, even if it’s not easy.
The forward also confessed he didn't expect to be called up to the national team:
I was completely taken by surprise. It’s clear that I’m not a starter, so it was nice to feel the coach's trust. But the call-up really caught me off guard.
Zirkee had considered leaving Manchester United last winter in search of more playing time, and that question arose again over the summer, although the club made it clear they see him as a valuable rotation player.
