Ruben Amorim explains reason for brutal Joshua Zirkzee substitution | OneFootball

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has admitted it was "tough" to substitute Joshua Zirkzee in the first half of Monday night's Premier League defeat to Newcastle United, but insisted it was for the good of the team.

Zirkzee started the game as a stand-in for suspended captain Bruno Fernandes but lasted little over half an hour. The Dutchman hadn't played well but there were also harsh cheers from the stands as he went off, heading straight down the tunnel.

Zirkzee, who has struggled for consistent form in a United shirt since a £35m summer move from Bologna, was reported to have had tears in his eyes when he reached the tunnel by those who saw him there, before being persuaded to re-join his teammates on the bench.

"You have to think about the team," Amorim reflected afterwards, explaining that it was also partly due to being overrun in midfield during the early part of the game when Newcastle scored twice.

Kobbie Mainoo replaced Zirkzee after 32 minutes / Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/GettyImages

"The player is suffering during the game. We needed another midfielder. It was tough on me to do that, I talked with Joshua on that. I'm always thinking about the team. At that moment it was important for him to come out."

Amorim expressed his belief that there will not be any lasting damage to Zirkzee's confidence or status at the club, also stressing that he wasn’t hanging the 23-year-old out to dry.

"I know that Josh is a really good guy. When he went to the tunnel, I can understand that some guys can be in a bad way but he is a really good lad. It is life, and we will support Josh and continue. Newcastle were better than Manchester United, they weren't better than Josh."

United, having lost four games on the spin in all competitions – and six of their last eight - won't get any respite given that next up is a trip to Premier League leaders Liverpool.