Man Utd 1, Leeds 1: Zirkzee Shines Again with Goal, but Red Devils Held to Another Draw by the Whites

ITV1 CLEARED three hours to broadcast this match live and many viewers will still be wondering why.

There were 13 half-time changes and had more stardust sprinkled on their bench and in the stands than on the pitch at kick-off.

There was not a single yellow card in this tame friendly that ended with United’s fourth-choice goalkeeper between the sticks.

will still feel that United’s productive continued at a sold-out Croke Park.

lived up to his new squad number as the ‘1’ with a fine save, made a successful return at centre- half and Andrey Santos’ importance could be gauged by his rest for the second half.

remains United’s standout performer this pre-season, particularly as he has filled in for up front in all five friendlies.

Mbeumo did the bulk of the legwork for Joshua Zirkzee’s goal, drifting wide and deceiving his marker before racing into the final third and craftily slotting in Zirkzee.

The Cameroonian was denied a fourth goal in three games by the agile and then the woodwork. With Sesko a mere spectator again, Mbeumo seems certain to start at on Saturday week and his country’s absence at the World Cup is already benefiting United.

United were the superior side with the stronger XI in the first half. After Leeds introduced their big guns at the interval, they did the majority of the running until Carrick sent on a handful of regulars on the hour.

In spite of the promotion of some callow academy hopefuls, United’s squad situation is not too dire as they prepare for the start of the new season.

Lammens, on his first start since his World Cup error cost , was the only senior goalkeeper. and are both nursing injuries.

It is unlikely many inside Croke Park had heard of the three United substitute goalies. Dermot Mee, once a Under 21 international, was charitably granted a half-hour runout.

, booed on his last visit to Dublin with United at the Aviva Stadium, was given a breather after four successive starts.

was left out as he recovers from a foot injury while , , Lisandro Martinez and Sesko are scheduled to play against AC Milan in Poland on Saturday.

Bruno Fernandes, and emerged on the hour after their babysitting stint alongside the 15-year-old . Fernandes had a goal chalked off for offside and clipped the crossbar.

Segregation was sensibly in place at Croke Park amid a sizeable contingent of Leeds fans. A couple of supporters dared to don half-and-half scarves.

As peculiar as it was of Carrick to include Zirkzee, and Tyler Fletcher, seven of the United starters could feasibly line up at Hull.

A cynic might suggest the selections of Amass at left- back and Zirkzee in attack were shop window tactics.

Amass played with an aggression befitting a competitive game between the two rivals, eager to stake his claim as Luke Shaw’s understudy. or may dash those aspirations.

Zirkzee, recalled at the expense of the teenager Shea Lacey, nearly capped an incisive attack with a side-footed volley that James Trafford reacted alertly to.

The Dutchman did not have to wait much longer for another chance and he swept the ball clinically past Trafford from Mbeumo’s precise pass.

Ironically, Mbeumo’s potency up front reduced Zirkzee’s playing time in the two friendlies in Sweden. The Dutchman was deployed as the No.10 on his return to the starting XI.

That rare goal for Zirkzee was his first since Ruben Amorim’s penultimate game in charge against Wolves last December. It will count towards his official haul, of course, nor is it likely to increase his chances of remaining at United beyond the transfer window.

When Carrick made a second batch of changes, Cunha played up front. The preference remains to use an auxiliary striker while Sesko builds himself up after a long-term shin injury.

With a Scot wearing the number 39 and a Brazilian number 17 in midfield, United seemed to be summoning the spirit of the Scott McTominay-Fred ‘McFred’ axis.

Tyler Fletcher got away with one mistake but not the second time and Brenden Aaronson’s equaliser has to be a learning curve for the 19-year-old.

What United lack in their squad they have offset with stability and preparation. Yet the injury to on Saturday and Fletcher’s error in Dublin reaffirm the need for a specialist defensive midfielder.

However inconsequential this game was, there is every chance it trumped the ratings for or .