Erik ten Hag hails Joshua Zirkzee after debut goal handed Man United three points in season opener… as he also explains why Jadon Sancho didn’t make the matchday squad

Erik ten Hag hailed match-winning debutant Joshua Zirkzee after the summer signing came off the bench to fire Manchester United to a season-opening victory over Fulham.

Zirkzee came on with 30 minutes to go and netted what would be the game’s only goal when he turned in Alejandro Garnacho’s cross in front of the Stretford End.

While Ten Hag was delighted to see his £36.5million recruit get off the mark on his debut, he is eager for him to do even more as he looks to build on it next weekend away at Brighton.

‘It doesn’t matter if he’s Dutch, English, Russian or South American, he’s a Manchester United player,’ Ten Hag said.

‘It’s very good as a striker to score the winning goal in his first game.

Erik ten Hag has hailed the impact of his summer signing Zirzkee after the striker’s vital goal

‘I remember Rasmus Hojlund [scoring] in his first game (versus Brighton) and then VAR came to the conclusion. He was so frustrated. For [Zirkzee], I am very happy for him, it will give him belief and the fans. It’s a very good start.’

Zirkzee has had to bide his time since joining from Bologna, finding himself as an unused substitute in the Community Shield at Wembley last weekend as Ten Hag demands more from his fitness.

Asked what was so appealing about Zirkzee to recruit him this summer, Ten Hag said: ‘He has so many attributes that we didn’t have and straight away he showed it.

‘He is very good in his linking up, his combinations. We have good ball-playing attacking players and they can benefit from this.’

As for what more he wants to see from Zirkzee, he added: ‘He has to get into the box and score goals, it’s the main attribute of a striker.’

One player who was not involved in the matchday squad at all was Jadon Sancho, who has had a rocky relationship with Ten Hag during his time at the club.

That was said to have been smoothed over over the summer but his absence here, having missed a penalty in the Community Shield, raised eyebrows.

For Ten Hag, Sancho still has a role to play this season.

Ten Hag explained that Jadon Sancho had been struggling with an ear infection this week

‘First of all we need squad depth, this season is survival of the fittest and I can only put 20 players in the squad,’ he said.

‘Jadon in the week had an ear infection and he wasn’t 100% fit for this.

‘He could play but you have choices and make the choice that we preferred other players on the bench. That can change and it will change.

‘You saw today how important subs are. We need the right balance. It’s frustrating for the player but it’s about the team, about the club. We expect players to fight for the club and everyone will have their minutes and they have to prove it.’