“Ooh, Joshua Zirkzee” – OT has a new idol, and not just for the goal – Astonishing stat revealed

Joshua Zirkzee has managed to turn his rapport with the Manchester United faithful upside down in the space of a few weeks.

The Dutchman endured a forgettable first half of the season which culminated with a nightmarish incident in the last fixture of the year against Newcastle United when he was humiliatingly cheered off by his own supporters after being hauled off just 30 minutes into the match.

Many suspected that would be the end of the 23-year-old’s time at Carrington, especially with the January transfer session offering him the chance to reunite with his old Bologna mentor Thiago Motta at Juventus.

Nevertheless, Zirkzee never fancied this scenario, but insisted on leaving a positive mark at Man Utd. While the club’s dire state is certainly hampering his attempts, the Netherlands international has been producing visibly improved outings as of late, and it certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed among the Red Army.

The striker was the one to score the final spot-kick against Arsenal in the third round of the FA Cup, and has once again proved vital in the same competition by coming off the bench to score the all-important equalizer against Leicester City in the fourth round. This set the stage for Harry Maguire to score the last-minute winner that booked the Red Devils’ place in the fifth round.

How Joshua Zirkzee became so popular at Old Trafford

During his cameo, Zirkzee was heavily cheered by the home crowds at Old Trafford, with the chant “Ooh, Joshua Zirkzee” booming all around the stadium. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the striker didn’t win the adoration of the Reds faithful just for goal contributions, but rather for his overall dedication to the cause.

According to Statman Dave, Zirkzee enjoyed 100% success in his attempted take-ons. The Dutchman also attempted five tackles, and all of them were successful, including one that saw him sprinting back to the middle of the park to stop an opponent in his tracks and turn a quick Leicester attack into a Man Utd play.

So while he might not be the most prolific striker out there, the former Bayern Munich man certainly doesn’t lack motivation or commitment, and the Old Trafford crowds are grateful for as much.