Erik ten Haag is a man that knows how to develop talent and bring them on to the top schene of the game as he this summer used €42.5m on fellow Dutch, Joshua Zirkzee.
Zirkzee came of the bench to score the only goal of the game in the season opener vs. Fulham, having that little special touch on the ball that finally found the net behind possibly the best player on the field, Bernd Leno.
Zirkzee is a bit of a hidden gem for the Premier League fan, not really seen in the rumour mill in the past as a potential player to move over the channel and become a star of this special and very competitive football league.
He was early spotted by Bayern Munich, coming in from Feyenoord as a youngster, but still not really seen as one to compete for the top forward job in competition with Robert Lewandowski. He was instead pushed out on loan to clubs such as Parma and Anderlecht, getting vital experience from those experiences.
His major breakthrough did in real happen last season, playing a vital role in the rise of Bologna as they finished 5th in Serie A, qualifying for Champions League, scoring 11 goals and of course having that special impact that made Man Utd interested in becoming part of his footbaling journey.
He had to wait patiently for his debut in Premier League, not being picked for the starting eleven vs. Fulham, but among the players on the bench. Eric ten Hag decided to take off Mason Mount in the 61st minute, replacing him with Zirkzee.
The 1.93m tall forward became that master move of the day, as he was left on the bench in the Community Shield game vs. Man City, ending in a penalty shoout out defeat, with Zirkzee never taking part.
Man Utd looked a solid unit vs. Fulham, having difficulties to break down Fulham over 90 minutes, but having Zirkzee to call on as a sub and possibly a starter in the future, might be one new dimention for Erik ten Hag as he potentially will lift the spirit and bring more glory to the hungry fans of Old Trafford.
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