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 striker on the bench to face Eddie Howe's side in Man Utd's final match of 2024. When asked by Gary Neville to explain the reason for his inclusion, the Portuguese told Sky Sports: “Selection.
“We have a lot of players [out] so he's in. Like I said, I pick my players every week and he was there to be picked. This time he is here.”
Rashford has not played since being substituted in the 56th minute of Man Utd's 2-1 victory over Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League on December 12.
He has since missed four games over the festive period, including the win over Manchester City, as well as losses to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup and to Bournemouth and Wolves in the Premier League.
Neville: Why did Amorim bring back Rashford?
Sky Sports' Gary Neville at Old Trafford:
“A lack of goals is a big problem. To have someone with that profile completely removed from the team and almost thrown away in recent weeks was always a question Ruben Amorim would get until he brought him back. The question tonight is: Why did you bring him back ?It should be clear.
“They're not scoring many goals. They've obviously got suspensions and out-of-form players, and maybe they think he's failed in training in recent days, but it's a big question for Amorim tonight. Why has he done that?” brought him back now? It is clear that Bruno Fernandes has been suspended.
“What mood will Marcus Rashford be in? How will the crowd react to him? These are questions that need to be answered, but it's not ideal.”
Why did Amorim drop Rashford?
Amorim previously revealed he had dropped the forward for 'selection' reasons and not injury or illness, starting at the Etihad for the Manchester derby earlier this month when Alejandro Garnacho was also left out of the squad of 20 players on match day.
Asked about the decision to leave out Rashford and Garnacho, United boss Amorim told Sky Sports: “Selection.
“We try to evaluate everything: training, performance, game performance, involvement with the teammates, encouraging the teammates.
“Everything is at stake when we analyze the players and try to choose them, so it was my selection. Simple. I don't want to send a message to the dressing room. It's just an evaluation and they know that.” .
“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 like I said, I pay attention to everything: the way you eat, the way you put on your clothes to start the match. Everything. I make my evaluation and then I have to decide. I have a lot of players to play out to choose.” (of) and today I made my choice.”
Garnacho was recalled for the Carabao Cup visit to Spurs on December 19. Conversely, Rashford was still absent and the England international would then conduct an interview with journalist Henry Winter, during which he revealed that he was “ready for a new challenge”.
Amorim then questioned the decision-making from the players' camp following public comments about his future at Old Trafford.
“It's a difficult situation,” Amorim told Sky Sports. “I understand that these players have a lot of people around them who make choices that are not the player's first idea.
“I'm always there to help Marcus as 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 concentrate on performance and the way you train. For the rest, it is better for me and the club to deal with it when the time comes.”
“Right now I'm focusing on improving Marcus and we need a talented guy like Marcus. I'll forget about the interview now and see what I see on the field.”
Amorim subsequently left Rashford out of his squad for the fourth consecutive time, but after another damaging defeat to Wolves at Molineux, the new boss has handed the forward the chance to impress in United's final game of 2024.
Man Utd team news
Team playing against Newcastle: Onana, De Ligt, Maguire, Martinez, Mazraoui, Casemiro, Eriksen, Dalot, Amad, Hojlund, Zirkzee.
Subs: Bayindir, Kukonki, Malacia, Yoro, Collyer, Mainoo, Antony, Garnacho, Rashford.
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