- Marcus Rashford has been left out of Man United’s last three matchday squads
- Manchester United’s leaders will not put pressure on Amorim to play striker
- LISTEN NOW: It all starts! Are Tottenham managers treated differently to other managers?
Manchester United will not put any pressure on head coach Ruben Amorim to select Marcus Rashford or leave out the troubled star.
Rashford has been absent from United’s squad for the past three matches after the player responded to his Manchester derby withdrawal by saying he wants a new challenge in his career.
Amorim has left the door open for Rashford to return to Wolves on Boxing Day but has given no guarantee he will be brought in from the cold.
It is understood the United hierarchy are refusing to get involved in the situation, with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, director Sir Dave Brailsford, CEO Omar Berrada and technical director Jason Wilcox leaving Amorim to make the team selection decision.
In theory, there is little point in leaving a player earning £315,000 a week on the sidelines, especially if United want to get the best price for Rashford in the January transfer window.
The 27-year-old was valued at £100million after scoring 30 goals in Erik ten Hag’s first season at Old Trafford, but that figure is believed to have been halved.
Ruben Amorim is under no pressure to play Marcus Rashford despite his exile from Manchester United’s squad risking his price tag falling
Amorim has ruled out the 27-year-old striker from his last three matchday squads, including the derby
Ineos refuses to get involved in the situation and is happy to leave Amorim to choose his team
They faced a similar dilemma with Jadon Sancho last year, after the player fell out with Ten Hag and trained on his own for four months before returning on loan to Borussia Dortmund.
Amorim has taken a stand on the Rashford issue after becoming unhappy with his attitude and performance in training since succeeding Ten Hag in November.
While Alejandro Garnacho was left off the derby for similar reasons, the Argentine winger has played the last two games off the bench while Rashford has remained isolated.
After naming his squad for Sunday’s 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth, Amorim said: ‘It’s my decision and it always will be. It’s selection. I want to see the best from my players and I try different things with different players. That’s my focus.’
Asked if Rashford could return to Wolves on Boxing Day, Amorim said: ‘It depends. We’ll see.’