Zirkzee earns late Netherlands call-up after Brobbey limps off with hamstring injury

Joshua Zirkzee has been called up to the Netherlands squad after Brian Brobbey was forced off with a hamstring injury during Thursday’s 1-1 Nations League draw with Germany, with the Manchester United forward set to join up with his international teammates in Amsterdam on Friday evening.

Brobbey, who plays his club football at Sunderland, limped off clutching his hamstring and was subsequently ruled out of the remainder of the international window, prompting head coach Xavi Hernandez to seek a replacement striker. Zirkzee, 25, who has made four appearances for United so far this season, was confirmed as that replacement.

Xavi had spoken candidly after the Germany match about the situation: “Brian is indeed injured, unfortunately, so we will call up another striker. We haven’t decided who yet; I haven’t had time for that yet.”

Zirkzee will undergo a medical assessment at KNVB headquarters before flying to Belgrade on Saturday with the rest of the Dutch squad. The Serbia fixture on Sunday will be the first of three international appearances he is expected to make in the coming weeks — the Netherlands also face Greece on Thursday, 1 October, before hosting Serbia in the return fixture at Eindhoven.

Xavi is still searching for his first win as Netherlands head coach after the draw in his opening match against Germany. The Dutch were arguably the better side on the night, registering 22 shots, 10 on target and five clear-cut chances, only to be denied by an outstanding performance from Germany goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, who made five saves.

Felix Nmecha’s opener for Germany was cancelled out by Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo in stoppage time, a result Xavi felt did not reflect his side’s dominance. “We deserved more in the end,” he said. “We created chances, applied pressure and we were superior in the second half. Germany owe the point they got today to Marc-André.”

Zirkzee’s call-up offers him a chance to build on limited playing time at Old Trafford and stake a claim in a Netherlands squad that will be looking to build momentum in the Nations League.