'Suffering' - Ruben Amorim explains brutal Joshua Zirkzee decision in Manchester United defeat to Newcastle

Ruben Amorim admits Joshua Zirkzee 'was suffering' before he was taken off in the first-half of Manchester United’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United on Monday night. The Portuguese head coach made four changes to his starting line up from the Boxing Day defeat to Wolves, with Zirkzee one of those who came in from the start.

It felt like a huge opportunity for the Dutch forward to show what he has to offer in Amorim's new tactical set-up, but it ended in humiliation when he was brutally substituted after just 32 minutes of the match with his side already two goals down. Some sections of the Old Trafford crowd even cheered the decision to replace Zirkzee, who headed straight down the tunnel before he remerged a few minutes later.

Kobbie Mainoo certainly gave United an improvement from the bench, though it was hard not to feel sorry for Zirkzee after his difficult start to life at United took another unfortunate twist.

Explaining the tough decision, Amorim told Sky Sports: "You have to think about the team but also the player, but the player is suffering. I thought the team was suffering and we needed another midfielder to have more ball. It was really tough for me to do that, but I've spoken to Josh as it was important to express the message. For the team, it was important for Josh to go out.

"I know that Josh is a really good guy. When he went to the tunnel, I can understand that some guys can be in a bad way but he is a really good lad. It is life, and we will support Josh and continue. Newcastle were better than Manchester United, they weren't better than Josh."