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Marcus Rashford has been recalled to Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United squad for Newcastle’s visit to Old Trafford, live on Monday Night Football.
Amorim has named the forward on the bench to face Eddie Howe’s side in Man Utd’s final game of 2024. Asked to explain his inclusion by Gary Neville, the Portuguese told Sky Sports: “Selection.
“We have a lot of players (out) so he’s in. As I’ve said, every week I choose my players and he was there to be chosen. This time, he’s here.”
Rashford has not played since being substituted in the 56th minute of Man Utd’s 2-1 Europa League win over Viktoria Plzen on December 12.
Since then, he has missed four games over the festive period – including the win at Manchester City, as well as defeats to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup and against Bournemouth and Wolves in the Premier League.
Neville: Why has Amorim brought Rashford back?
Sky Sports’ Gary Neville at Old Trafford:
“Lack of goals is a big problem. To have someone with that profile out of the team completely and pretty much thrown away for the last few weeks was always going to be a question Ruben Amorim was going to have until he bring him back. The question tonight is, why have you brought him back? Maybe it’s pretty obvious.
“They don’t score many goals. It’s clear they have suspensions and players out of shape, and maybe think it’s gone against training in the last few days, but it’s a big question for Amorim tonight. Why has he been bringing it back? Obviously, Bruno Fernandes has been suspended.
“What kind of mood is Marcus Rashford going to be in? How is the crowd going to be with him? It’s questions that need to be answered but it’s not ideal.”
Why did Amorim drop Rashford?
Amorim previously revealed that he dropped the forward for “selection” reasons rather than injury or illness, starting at the Etihad for the Manchester derby earlier this month, when Alejandro Garnacho was also not included in the squad 20 player match day.
Asked to explain the decision to omit Rashford and Garnacho, United boss Amorim said Air Sports:” choice.
“We try to evaluate everything – training, performance, game performance, engaging with teammates, pushing teammates up.
“Everything is on the line when we analyze and try to pick the players, so that was my choice. Simple. I don’t want to send a message (to the dressing room with this). It’s simply an evaluation and they know it.
“The players are very smart and so everyone understands my decision and I have to choose. It’s just a simple selection.
“Of course the context is difficult – we have to win games and we have a difficult situation now.
“But as I said, I pay attention to everything – the way you eat, the way you wear your clothes to go to the game. Everything. I do my evaluation and then it’s I have to decide. I have many players to choose from. (oh) and today I chose me.”
Garnacho was recalled on December 19 for the Carabao Cup visit to Spurs. Conversely, Rashford was still absent and the England international would then hold an interview with journalist Henry Winter where he revealed that he was “ready for a new challenge”.
Amorim subsequently questioned the decision made by the player’s camp following those public comments regarding his future at Old Trafford.
“It’s a tough situation,” Amorim said Air Sports. “I understand that these players have a lot of people around them, making choices that are not the first thought of the player.
“I’m always here to help Marcus like another player. I have to do what I have to do. They chose to do the interview because it’s not just Marcus. I understand that.
“As a coach I focus on performance and the way you train. The rest, it’s better for me and the club to deal with that when the time comes.
“At the moment I’m focusing on improving Marcus and we need a talented guy like Marcus. I’m forgetting the interview now and seeing what I see on the field.”
Amorim subsequently left Rashford out of his squad for a fourth game in a row but following another damaging defeat against Wolves at Molineux, the new boss has offered the forward a chance to make an impact in United’s final game of 2024.
Man Utd team news
Team to play Newcastle: Onana, De Ligt, Maguire, Martinez, Mazraoui, Casemiro, Eriksen, Dalot, Amad, Hojlund, Zirkzee.
Substitutes: Bayindir, Kukonki, Malacia, Yoro, Collyer, Mainoo, Antony, Garnacho, Rashford.
