EXCLUSIVE: Zaha's late show forced Moyes to act... that's why starlet was on BENCH for reserve game



David Moyes’ crumbling relationship with Wilfried Zaha is at a new low after it emerged that he ordered the young winger’s exclusion from Monday night’s reserve game because he was 45 minutes late meeting up with the squad.

Zaha has been left fuming in recent days after Moyes told him that he could not leave the club on loan until injuries to other players had cleared up.

But Moyes’ irritation at what he has perceived to be a lack of professionalism and commitment from the former Crystal Palace winger all season finally boiled over on Monday when he was informed that the 21-year-old had arrived three-quarters of an hour late for Monday’s reserve game against Middlesbrough at the AJ Bell Stadium in Salford.

VIDEO Scroll down to watch Zaha in England U21 training and scrapping with Morrison



From the bench: Wilfried Zaha in action against Middlesbrough U21s - he was 45 minutes late

Looking to the heavens: Zaha looks dejected when missing a chance after being brought off the bench

The United manager immediately decided that Zaha should be relegated to the bench, and reserve-team coach Warren Joyce eventually brought him on after 55 minutes.

Earlier in the weekend, Zaha had expressed his annoyance when he learned that he would not even be on the bench for Sunday’s first team game at Chelsea.

At one point, some United sources felt the England international would not even travel with the squad to London.

In the end he did but sat stewing in the stands at Stamford Bridge as United lost 3-1.

Cracking the whip: United boss David Moyes has been furious with Zaha's attitude at Old Trafford

Left out: Zaha has played just 28 minutes of Premier League football for United this season

Moyes has been criticised by some United fans for not playing Zaha enough, especially given that the player signed by Sir Alex Ferguson for £10million a year ago has looked impressive in patches during the handful of occasions on which he has appeared.

The United manager has felt for many weeks, though, that Zaha has not shown the right mental strength and application to suggest that he can contribute to the first team in the long term, something that the Scot now feels has been vindicated.

Now there is a worry that Zaha’s continued presence in the first-team squad on a daily basis could be unsettling and it is likely that Moyes will eventually move him out on loan at the end of the current transfer window.

Eye-to-eye: Moyes initially refused Zaha a January loan - but could relent before the window ends

How many takers there will be, though, is open to question. One Premier League manager enquired about him back in November, for example, only to be told by one of United’s own backroom staff that Zaha would prove to be too high maintenance.

‘I wanted to take him but was frankly told it would be a bad idea,’ the manager said.