Manchester United Face Setback as Zirkzee Sidelined for Lyon Clash

Manchester United have been dealt a significant blow ahead of their critical Europa League quarter-final second leg against Olympique Lyonnais. Manager Ruben Amorim has announced that star forward Joshua Zirkzee, 23, is likely to be unavailable for the upcoming match.

Zirkzee, who joined United in a €42.5 million transfer last summer, suffered an apparent hamstring injury during the team’s recent 4-1 loss to Newcastle United. The Dutch striker was forced to leave the field early, with Rasmus Højlund, 22, taking his place.

In his post-match interview, Amorim stated, “It appears Zirkzee will be sidelined for several matches. We must now concentrate on our next fixture.” This setback comes at a particularly challenging time for the Portuguese coach, as United currently sit in 14th place in the Premier League and have already been eliminated from domestic cup competitions.

The first leg in France ended in a 2-2 draw, with Zirkzee nearly securing victory for United by scoring in the 88th minute. However, Rayan Cherki’s 95th-minute equalizer for Lyon has left the tie finely balanced. The return leg at Old Trafford on Thursday now takes on even greater importance for the struggling English side.