Ruben Amorim rules Man Utd player out of decisive Lyon clash

Manchester United will be without Joshua Zirkzee for Thursday's crucial Europa League quarter-final second leg against Lyon at Old Trafford.

Zirkzee started Sunday's humbling Premier League defeat against Newcastle United but was forced off through injury after only 55 minutes.

The Dutchman was in the lineup to offer some respite to Rasmus Hojlund, who will now be the squad’s only striker for the next game and possibly a few more.

"Josh, I think he will be out for some games," Ruben Amorim told MUTV.

Zirkzee hasn't been able to consistently impress since a £36.5m transfer from Bologna last summer, despite a debut goal on the opening day of the Premier League season. A handful of promising performances as one of the split No 10s in Amorim's 3-4-2-1 system suggests there is a role for him, but a lack of depth up front has seen more of his recent outings back in the No 9 position.

The 23-year-old has scored seven goals across all competitions this season, of which only three have come in the Premier League – and none of those so far in 2025.

But losing Zirkzee for the Lyon game is a blow. He netted off the bench in the first leg, a goal which looked like it would win the game until a stoppage time equaliser from Rayan Cherki. He also found the net in the last 16 against Real Sociedad and has been generally more at ease in Europe.

Winning the Europa League this season is absolutely vital to United. Not only would lifting a major trophy for the third successive year soften the blow of what has been a historically bad domestic campaign for the club, it would open a much-needed door into next season's Champions League and the associated riches of competing in Europe's premier competition.

READ THE LATEST MAN UTD NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP