Zirkzee's belated debut was a false start- but striker now has head-start

ANTHONY Martial is gone but not totally forgotten.

- SAMUEL LUCKHURST

At Carrington on Thursday, a colleague began their question with, "Erik, forgetting Anthony Martial, because he never seemed very interested..." Ten Hag and the assembled media managed to suppress laughter. Ten Hag agreed. Back in April, a confidant suggested to the United manager that the perennially absent Martial get a new hobby.

"We are on the same page," Ten Hag assured him. The only club Martial has at the moment is that of a sandwich or whatever he is holding on the fairway. It would be no surprise if he was a free agent for as long as David de Gea was.

Martial never played for United again after the 3-0 home humbling by Bournemouth on December 9.

United's magnificent matchgoers seldom sully themselves but they did with their send-off for the uncaring underperformer after the final home game of last season.

Now they have a new striker to serenade. One who is fit, mobile, eager and determined. The opposite to Martial. Joshua Zirkzee crowned his Old Trafford debut as Ruud van Nistelrooy did, with a matchwinner against Fulham.

Extraordinarily, six Dutchmen have registered on their home United debut: Van Nistel rooy, Jordi Cruyff, Robin van Persie, Alexander Buttner, Donny van de Beek and Zirkzee. Van Nistelrooy, Van Persie and Zirkzee all put Fulham to the sword.

Van Nistelrooy had strolled into the technical area and had a pitchside view of Zirkzee's prod embraced Ten Hag.