Erik ten Hag hails Joshua Zirkzee as Manchester United boss explains Jadon Sancho absence

Erik ten Hag has explained why he urged Manchester United to sign Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna, after the summer recruit scored a late winner to help the Red Devils beat Fulham 1-0 in their Premier League opener.

Zirkzee scored a clever flicked goal on 87 minutes to cap off a dream debut off the bench at Old Trafford on Friday night.

He joined United from Bologna for a £35.8million fee this summer and was making his first appearance for the club, as were ex-Bayern Munich pair Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui.

“It’s very good for a striker coming into Manchester United to score the winning goal in his first game”, Ten Hag said. “For him, it’s very pleasing. Very happy for him. Very encouraging for him, for the fans, for everyone. It’s a very good start.”

Asked why United had signed Zirkzee, his fellow Dutchman replied: “He has some attributes we didn’t have. Straight away, he showed it. He’s very good with linking up and combinations.

“He has to arrive in the box to score goals. He did. And if it’s the winner then it’s very pleasing for everyone.”

Jadon Sancho spent the second half of last season on loan at Borussia Dortmund but was expected to feature for United this season. Ten Hag was quizzed as to why he left the Englishman out of his squad to face Fulham.

“We need squad depth; it will be survival of the fittest”, Ten Hag explained. “There can only be 20 players in squad. We have to make choices. Jadon, in the week, had an ear infection. He was not 100 per cent fit for this. He could play, but we made a choice.”

United squandered two golden opportunities in the first half when Bruno Fernandes was denied by Bernd Leno from line-breaking passes by Casemiro on two separate occasions.

Ten Hag explained Casemiro will not play a more attacking role this season but did pay tribute to the Brazilian’s quality when going forward.

“A midfielder has to defend and has to attack. Everyone knows Casemiro is a brilliant passer. Very good interpretation, good in duels, but also he’s a good linker and a good passer.”