Joshua Zirkzee has perfect chance to showcase his unique Manchester United role

Erik ten Hag produced a tactical masterclass to defeat Man City in the FA Cup final and keep his job at Manchester United. Few would complain if he looked to emulate the approach again tomorrow.

There is far less riding on the Community Shield meeting at Wembley stadium. Still, Ten Hag will be hoping for another impressive performance at the very least, as evidence that his side is moving in the right direction.

United would have liked to have more summer signings to showcase for the curtain-raiser and with Leny Yoro sidelined, all eyes will be on Joshua Zirkzee and what he can bring to this side.

They not only signed Zirkzee due to his added firepower in the forward line but also because he brings so much more. The 23-year-old is viewed as someone who can play across the attack as well as in a deeper role, linking up midfield and attack.

He could be the perfect addition to a United side that is still more comfortable on the counter-attack rather than breaking down sides, and while the long-term ambition is to become more probing in possession, there is no shame in embracing an underdog persona against City.

It could well provide Zirkzee with the perfect chance to showcase his unique talents to the United side, with the Community Shield meeting an opportunity for him to be used in the 'false striker' role he loves so much. “I want to play a pure game," he said earlier this week. "Nutmegs, chops and back heels are moments that belong in football. That style has value for me. It's the soccer kid in me because it’s supposed to be fun too, isn't it?

“You have to pick the right moments. It's intuition. I think I have excellent skills. I spent a lot of time on that as a kid. But if I lose the ball, I want to regain it immediately with the team. But the fancy footwork is part of my game at the end of the day. I occasionally drop down to midfield. I don't do that for myself but to help the team. I am what I call a false striker. Not a No 9, not a No 10. I am a 9.5! That's my game. Maybe I'm a little different than others. But being different is good, right?”

Zirkzee's talents as a '9.5' might not always be catered for in the United lineup, but in matches when they aren't expected to have much of the ball and can do their damage on the counter-attack instead, he could be the ideal asset.

United have so often been at their best as a team playing under the break during Ten Hag's reign and did it to perfection with Bruno Fernandes utilised as a false nine in their FA Cup triumph back in May. The absence of Rasmus Hojlund this weekend only further strengthens the argument to play without a recognised striker in the side, with Zirkzee the ideal candidate to come into the attack and Fernandes repurposed to a more traditional central midfield role.

Zirkzee is different, but United need him if they will stay the same.