Manchester United boss Michael Carrick defended Joshua Zirkzee after the striker endured a frustrating afternoon during United’s goalless draw against Sunderland.

Zirkzee was handed a rare start following injury concerns surrounding Benjamin Sesko and the inconsistent form of Bryan Mbeumo. It marked the Dutch forward’s first appearance in the starting lineup since the beginning of December, but he struggled to stamp his authority on the match.

The 24-year-old found himself largely isolated throughout the contest at the Stadium of Light, managing only a handful of touches inside the penalty area and registering just one effort on target before being substituted midway through the second half as United settled for a point.

Despite the underwhelming display, Carrick refused to single out the forward for criticism, insisting the circumstances of the game and Zirkzee’s lack of recent minutes needed to be considered.

The United manager explained that there were moments where the striker connected play effectively, although he admitted the team at times failed to provide enough support around him. Carrick also stressed that players returning after limited action often need time to regain rhythm and sharpness, adding that he would not judge the striker solely on one difficult outing.

Reflecting on the overall performance, Carrick acknowledged that Sunderland made life difficult for his side and said United had expected a demanding encounter away from home. He admitted the visitors were not at their fluent best but believed grinding out a result in challenging circumstances was still an important quality for the team to develop.

Carrick also pointed to the changes within the squad as a factor behind United’s lack of rhythm, though he remained encouraged by certain aspects of the display, particularly the defensive structure that helped secure a clean sheet.

United’s preparations for the game were disrupted before kick-off after both Casemiro and Sesko were ruled out through injury concerns.

Providing an update on the duo afterwards, Carrick revealed that Casemiro’s issue was not considered serious and expressed confidence that the midfielder should return next week. Sesko’s situation, however, remains less certain, with the striker continuing to deal with an ongoing shin problem that the club are carefully monitoring.

Manchester United will now turn their attention to next weekend’s home clash against Nottingham Forest.

Andre Onana could remain in Turkey beyond his loan spell, with Trabzonspor keen to secure him on a permanent deal.

The 30-year-old moved to Trabzonspor after falling out of favour at Manchester United, who brought in Senne Lammens last summer. Since then, Lammens has established himself as the club’s first-choice keeper, paving the way for Onana’s temporary switch.

In Turkey, however, Onana has rediscovered his form and quickly become a key figure. He recently grabbed attention with a standout performance in the Turkish Cup, saving three consecutive penalties to help his side overcome Samsunspor and reach the semi-finals.

The moment sparked widespread reactions online, especially from United supporters recalling their earlier penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby Town, where Onana managed just one save.

Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan has openly expressed the club’s desire to keep the goalkeeper. He indicated that while Onana has his own career plans, the club would be eager to make the move permanent if the circumstances align, leaving the final decision in the player’s hands.

Back in England, United are expected to consider selling Onana, particularly with Lammens now firmly established as their number one. The club will likely aim to recover a significant portion of the £47.5 million they paid to sign him from Inter Milan in 2023, with two years still remaining on his contract.

Beyond his cup heroics, Onana has been a consistent presence in the league, starting every match for Trabzonspor and playing a vital role in their push for the title. His performances have earned strong praise in Turkey, with the club currently sitting third in the table, just six points behind leaders Galatasaray.

Manchester City appear to have kicked off the psychological battle ahead of their Premier League showdown with Arsenal.

In the build-up to the match, bottles branded with the Arsenal logo were reportedly being sold outside the stadium, priced cheaply and seemingly intended as a tongue-in-cheek way for home fans to mock the visiting supporters.

The stunt draws inspiration from a recent viral moment at Stamford Bridge, where a City fan was seen jokingly “drinking Arsenal tears” during their emphatic 3-0 win over Chelsea—a clip that quickly spread across social media.

With tensions already high given the importance of the fixture, the gesture adds another layer to the rivalry between the two sides. Arsenal, meanwhile, will be focused on responding where it matters most—on the pitch—as they aim to silence critics and deliver a strong result in what could be a defining game in the title race.