Everyone seems to be upset with the exclusion of Mainoo in matches. Even when it comes to substitutions, he is almost overlooked or a last resort for Ruben Amorim.

We are rightfully frustrated at this because we know the quality of player he is and it's not as if he's being benched by prime Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets.

However, much like Amorim has overlooked Mainoo, I feel as though everyone (manager included) has completely overlooked (and perhaps forgotten) about Joshua Zirkzee.

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When you come into a new club (especially the size of United), into a new country and new league, things are always going to be difficult. With the state of the club, that made things even more difficult still.

The 24 year old has been at the club for just a year as well so it's not as if he's been here for a long time and wasted his chances.

There was also the injury at Newcastle that caused him to miss the latter stages of the season although he did appear in the Europa League final which was unforeseen as it looked like for all the money, he would be out for the rest of the campaign.

That comeback was rushed as while he did go on tour to America, he didn't feature in any pre-season fixture, in the States or elsewhere.

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Second seasons are usually the ones where you expect a player to kick on as it is a big campaign. However, I don't know what Zirkzee has done wrong in order to warrant such little game time under Amorim in these first six matches.

I know we're not that far into the season but when looking at how many minutes the Dutchman has played, it is quite alarming.

In six matches, Zirkzee has played a total of 77 minutes, most of which (59) came in the 3-2 win over Burnley. He hasn't started any game meaning that all his appearances have come from the bench.

While he may not be a starter, there's definitely been a few occasions where he could've been utilized.

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Amorim has been wont to use Maguire off the bench as one of his first substitutions, to everyone's frustration. Even Ugarte has come on earlier than the likes of both Zirkzee and Mainoo.

These changes have left us all confused because in the draw to Fulham, the manager brought on not one but two centre-backs when in need of a goal. Mainoo and Zirkzee were unused subs at a time when we needed such players on the field.

The Dutchman only featured for 8 minutes off the bench in the defeat to Grimsby which showed even further just how not in the manager's plans he is.

New striker Sesko is finding out just how difficult it is to play up front for United thanks to lack of service from his team-mates. Zirkzee is the only other 'striker' option after the loan departure of Hojlund. Yes, Josh isn't a no 9 per se but his position is technically a centre-forward.

Should Amorim think that maybe he needs something different in attack instead of a traditional striker, Zirkzee gives him that option.

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The alternative is to play him slightly deeper as a no 10. This is actually where we've seen the best of him in a United shirt. The problem with this is that we have sooooooo many no 10s: Amad, Bruno (although we know he's playing as a no 8), Mainoo potentially, Mount and the new additions of Cunha and Mbeumo.

How would Zirkzee get into one of those two attacking midfield positions with all those guys in the squad?

Perhaps when one or two of them are injured or have lost form?

Well, no. No he wouldn't.

Both Cunha and Mount got injured in the win over Burnley and was the match where Zikrzee played the most minutes as he replaced the injured Brazilian after half an hour.

Even though Sesko might be struggling, I doubt he's going to be dropped and should he be, I don't think it will be for Zirkzee.

Looking at the evidence from this season, Amorim would prefer to opt for Mount as the false 9 ahead of Cunha and Mbeumo. That is a viable option again as they have both returned.

So if Zirkzee can't play as a striker because it isn't his best position and we have an actual striker, if he can't play as a no 10 because we have so many, can't play when players are injured, and can't even get off the bench when we need something going forward,

then what the fuck is he doing at Man Utd?

I hate to be so blunt and this isn't blaming Zirkee himself, but it is a fair question.

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Even when Amorim substituted Zirkzee in the first half of that loss to Newcastle, he made quite the comeback and was one of our best players from the turn of the year until that injury.

If he could come back from that then surely there's a chance for him under this manager?

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If the manager wasn't going to use him in any sense, why did we not let him go in the transfer window? I would've rather have sold or loaned him instead of Hojlund. At least with Rasmus, he is a proper striker and considering we only have one of those, should anything happen to Sesko, we know we have a backup. Without the Dane, we don't.

Fabrizio Romano has also been talking about the future of Zirkzee as he's said that "Top Italian clubs have not stopped thinking about Zirkzee" and that even though he's calm about his current situation, Italian clubs are still keeping a watchful eye on his time at United.

He also says however, that while there was interest in the summer window and interest in him still, "Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim, the management and the player himself wanted to continue together for this season."

"Amorim considers Zirkzee an important player as he can play behind the striker or as a No.9, while adding quality, assists and goals to the squad. This is why the Portuguese tactician stopped his exit in January and again in the summer."

via UtdJoshua03.

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This begs the question of why Amorim hasn't used him if he wanted to keep him if he sees Zirkzee as an important player?

It's also a good thing in a way, that he is getting this interest because it shows that clubs see the quality he has despite not featuring much for United.

I like the player as I think there's quality there. We've seen it at times last season and as he is young at 24, there is enough time for him to turn things around. Given his attributes, he brings something different to the team. However, it's about getting onto the pitch.

This is why I say I'm worried about him because it feels like his time at the club is up before it's even started.

So where does Zirkzee fit in? What do you think is the problem?

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Joshua Zirkzee has played just 77 minutes in six games for Man Utd this season | Joshua Zirkzee: Image via Manchester United official X (@ManUtd)