VAN ZEE MAN

United new boy Joshua: I idolised Ruud... now he's my coach

- DAVID ANDERSON

JOSHUA ZIRKZEE says he grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy when he watched him star for Manchester United and Holland.

United's first summer signing remembers marvelling at Van Nistelrooy when he was small and is excited his fellow Dutchman has joined Erik ten Hag's coaching team.

Van Nistelrooy (bottom right) banged in 150 goals in just 219 games for United between 2001 and 2006, and Zirkzee says he wanted to be him as a kid.

"Yeah, obviously, when I was younger, watching the Dutch national team and Man United, he was one of the guys you pretended to be when you were playing out with your friends," he said in his first interview since joining United.

"So, having him now here is a bit special.