Regardless of your opinion of Joshua Zirkzee as a footballer and whether Manchester United should have signed him, the chances are you felt sorry for him as he faced a chorus of boos from his own supporters when he was substituted in the first half against Newcastle at Old Trafford last week.

Zirkzee was ruthlessly hooked by Ruben Amorim after just 33 minutes. He endured something a footballer never wants go through, and it was made worse by facing boos from his fans.

There is no right and wrong in that scenario. You cannot criticise match going fans for booing because they have spent their own cash to attend the game and are entitled to an opinion, but the booing didn't go down well with a large contingent of Mancunians who felt it was anti-United.

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"I have to feel sorry for him," said Gary Neville on commentary. "He has basically been cheered off by his own fans and that is brutal. I've not seen that too many times at Old Trafford. It's brutal."

Neville gets a lot of stick for his comments on United but he was correct in saying the treatment of Zirkzee was brutal. No player wants to be hooked in the first half, never mind being booed, and there was a suggestion that Zirkzee looked like he had tears in his eyes as he came off.

It was impossible not to feel for Zirkzee on a human level and that's why the reception he received from the travelling supporters at Anfield at the weekend was so heart-warming.

When Zirkzee emerged from the bench to warm up in the first half, his name was sung to the tune of Robin van Persie's chant and he was serenaded again when he replaced Rasmus Hojlund.

The away support at Anfield was tremendous on Sunday. They were defiant, sung loudly and their chant for Zirkzee would have done him the world of good after his early substitution.

Zirkzee almost assisted a matchwinner for Harry Maguire - it might have been offside - but that would have been instant redemption for the Dutchman after public embarrassment.

The Manchester Evening News' reporters have spoken to Zirkzee twice in the mixed zone after games this season. He is probably a journalist's nightmare because he is a man of few words, but he seems like a well-mannered person who doesn't have a bad bone in his body.

If Zirkzee was any more laidback, he would be horizontal and hopefully he has the personality to put his substitution against Newcastle behind him, so he can forget about it.

Zirkzee does have various different qualities and you can see why he was a success in Italy where the pace of play is slower, but the truth is, he doesn't look at the level required to be at United and his first season in Manchester might turn out to be his only season at the club.

Some reports have credited Juventus with an interest in Zirkzee but the Old Lady aren't said to be looking for a permanent transfer and loaning the 23-year-old out makes no sense to United.

Zirkzee could enjoy an outstanding second half of the campaign at United and suddenly find his scoring boots, but a split of parties at the end of the season after a underwhelming 12 months seems more of a possibility, as it would raise funds to put toward a more prolific forward.

Most players are given one season to settle at Old Trafford but it might be necessary for United to cut their losses in the summer if Zirkzee doesn't look like solving their scoring woes.

That doesn't mean Zirkzee should be booed and it was pleasing to see his reception at Anfield.