Joshua Zirkzee was sarcastically cheered off by Manchester United fans when he was ‘brutally’ substituted in the first half against Newcastle.
The Dutch forward started the match but was brought off for Kobbie Mainoo on 33 minutes with the Magpies 2-0 up and running United ragged at Old Trafford.
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Zirkzee walked up to the United bench and grabbed a coat before heading along the side of the pitch.
Fans in the stands at Old Trafford could be heard jeering the 23-year-old as he made his way off the pitch before he disappeared down the tunnel.
This was momentarily though as Zirkzee returned to the dugout as United played the rest of the first half in need of a response.
Zirkzee joined United from Bologna in the summer on a five-year contract for a fee of £36.5m.
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He has yet to deliver the goods for United, with just three goals in 18 Premier League games, and impatience among the Red Devils faithful is growing.
Red Devils legend Gary Neville said on commentary for Sky Sports of the boos aimed at the young forward: “I actually feel sorry for him, I really do.
“I know that he’s earning a lot of money, but there’s a human being in there that’s basically being cheered off by his own fans.
“That is brutal. I’ve not seen that too many times at Old Trafford in the 43 years I’ve been coming here.”
He added: “He’s had enough and I actually don’t blame him, [it’s] a massive embarrassment.
“I hope some of the fans down there give him a little something. He hasn’t played well let’s be clear, they’ve all been absolutely awful.”
Neville also called United the ‘worst pound-for-pound team in the country’ as their issues were on show once again in a disastrous first half.
Alexander Isak opened the scoring for Newcastle with an unmarked header with only four minutes on the clock.
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Joelinton doubled the visitors’ lead later in the half, with Sandro Tonali coming so close to a third when he struck the post.
United fans were heard booing at the half-time whistle following an opening 45 in which they were way off the pace.
Defeat would be Ruben Amorim’s sixth from 11 matches since he became head coach in November.
It would also extend United’s losing streak to four across all competitions as the problems continue to mount.
Amorim may call upon Marcus Rashford in the second half if needed after amid his return to the squad from a four-match absence.
