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

Joshua Zirkzee has been called into the Netherlands squad as an emergency replacement for Brian Brobbey, who was forced off with a hamstring injury during the Dutch side’s 1-1 Nations League draw against Germany on Thursday.

Brobbey, on loan at Sunderland, went down clutching his hamstring and subsequently returned to his club for treatment, leaving head coach Xavi Hernandez short of a striker. Xavi confirmed at his post-match press conference that a replacement would be called up, saying: “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.”

The choice fell on Manchester United forward Zirkzee, 25, who is expected to report to KNVB headquarters in Amsterdam on Friday evening for a medical assessment before joining the squad. He will then travel with the group to Belgrade on Saturday ahead of Sunday’s Nations League fixture against Serbia.

The Serbia trip is the first of three international matches Zirkzee is set to feature in during the break. The Netherlands follow that game with a visit to Greece on Thursday, 1 October, before hosting Serbia in Eindhoven for the reverse fixture.

Xavi is still searching for his first win as Netherlands head coach after Thursday’s draw in his debut. Germany took the lead through Felix Nmecha, but Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo equalised in stoppage time. Despite the dropped points, Xavi felt his side had done enough to win, noting that the Netherlands outshot Germany 22 to their opponents’ total and created five clear-cut chances, with Marc-André ter Stegen making five saves to keep the Dutch out.

“We deserved more in the end,” Xavi said. “We created chances, applied pressure and we were superior in the second half.” He was equally generous in his praise of the German goalkeeper: “He had an incredible game. Germany owe the point they got today to Marc-André.”

Zirkzee has made four appearances for Manchester United so far this season and will now look to add to his international experience during the Nations League window.