Josh's Ruud awakening

UNITED NEW BOY IDOLISED DUTCH HERO

- David Anderson

JOSHUA ZIRKZEE grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy when he watched him star for Manchester United and Holland.

United's first summer signing remembers marvelling at Van Nistelrooy and is excited his fellow Dutchman has joined Erik ten Hag's coaching team.

Van Nistelrooy scored 150 goals in just 219 games for the Red Devils between 2001 and 2006, and Zirkzee wanted to be him when he played as a kid.

"Yeah, watching the Dutch national team and Man United, he was one of the guys you pretended to be when you were playing out with your friends," he said.