Joshua Zirkzee injury update from Ruben Amorim after Man Utd defeat at Newcastle | Football

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim does not expect Joshua Zirkzee to be fit to face Lyon on Thursday after suffering an injury in defeat to Newcastle on Sunday afternoon.

The Dutch forward went down 55 minutes into the 4-1 loss at St James’ Park and it was immediately clear that he was in trouble.

The 23-year-old was clutching his hamstring, the physio dashed on, but it was obvious he would need to be replaced as Rasmus Hojlund immediately stripped and prepared to come on.

The severity of the injury is yet to be learned, but the chances that Zirkzee will be fit to face Lyon on Thursday appear very slim.

Asked of the situation after the game, Amorim said: ‘Zirkzee vs. Lyon? I think it’s over.’

It is another blow for Amorim and Manchester United after the striker scored their second goal in the 2-2 draw in France in the first leg.

Rasmus Hojlund did not start against Newcastle and will likely be recalled to lead the line in the second meeting with Lyon.

It was another bad day out for Amorim and his Red Devils side as they were comfortably beaten by their hosts.

Sandro Tonali impressively gave them the lead in the first half before the visitors levelled up through Alejandro Garnacho to end the opening period 1-1.

That was encouraging for the Red Devils but they fell away badly in the second stanza, with Newcastle dominating.

Harvey Barnes scored twice before captain Bruno Guimaraes made it four thanks to a blunder from goalkeeper Altay Bayindir.

The latest defeat saw Manchester United slip below Everton on goal difference into 14th, while Newcastle climb to fourth.

Amorim was frustrated with his side after the defeat, bemoaning the mistakes they made and reminded them that they have to much better in the crucial meeting with Lyon at Old Trafford on Thursday after the first leg finished 2-2 in France.

‘Many mistakes and they were stronger in the second balls. They were the better team,’ he told Sky Sports. ‘We did a lot of mistakes that makes it harder to win a game.

‘It’s a little bit of everything, it’s hard to point at one thing that goes wrong in these moments. It’s really hard to win against top teams like Newcastle. Let’s focus on Thursday, it’s really important for us. All the mistakes we did today we cannot do on Thursday.’

On criticism that he and his team will face after another defeat, he said: ‘I understand it, I don’t care. Nothing is worse than losing games. People can say whatever they want to say.’

Captain Bruno Fernandes told Sky Sports: ‘My teammates, I only get frustrated with them because I know how good they can be. I know how tough it is to represent this club. They want so much to give to the club, to win because they know how much they will be remembered if they win something with this club.

‘On Thursday we go forward, we create a big atmosphere in our stadium, we need to be on the front foot and give everything we have because we want to get to the semi-final.

‘In tough moments we have done great performances against the biggest clubs. In decisive games when everyone is watching. We are Man United, we have to step up and do everything to win the game.’

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