Joshua Zirkzee may have given Manchester United boss Michael Carrick a decision to make with the Premier League set to return this weekend. The Reds return to top-flight action on Saturday when they host Tottenham Hotspur, but Carrick will have several injury concerns to manage.
Zirkzee's international form
The Netherlands international was on the score sheet for his country on Sunday night as they claimed a 2-1 win over Serbia in the Nations League. Zirkzee has made four appearances so far for United this season, but has yet to be named in the starting line-up by Carrick across either the Premier League, Champions League or Carabao Cup.
The 25-year-old has made cameo appearances from the bench in the past two league matches against Fulham and Manchester City, and could be set for a bigger role when United host Spurs this weekend.
Injury concerns for United
Benjamin Sesko was one of several United players to withdraw from international duty at the start of the extended break, having missed the draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage last month. Sesko has been building up his fitness and recovering from the injury that sidelined him for the trip to the capital before the international break, but remains a doubt to be able to feature against Tottenham this weekend.
Zirkzee could go on to be an option for Carrick in the centre forward position, especially if Sesko remains unavailable for selection. Sesko was not part of the United team that faced Lausanne-Sport in a behind-closed-doors friendly last week, and remains a major doubt for the Reds with the return of Premier League football getting closer.
Carrick's options up front
Matheus Cunha has also been used in a false nine or centre forward role for United this season, and despite scoring in the draw with Fulham before the international break, the decision has had mixed results in the early weeks of the season. As a result, if Sesko is unavailable, Carrick could turn to Zirkzee to start as a centre forward against Tottenham, with Cunha potentially featuring on the left.
United are dealing with several other injury concerns, with Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Karl Darlow all also withdrawing from international duty before the Nations League fixtures began. There are also concerns around the fitness of Patrick Dorgu and Noussair Mazraoui, while Matthijs de Ligt, Amad Diallo, Manuel Ugarte and Tom Heaton all absent for United before the international break began.
