Ruben Amorim has refused to close the door on Marcus Rashford at Manchester United, despite the striker hinting he was ready for a fresh start away from Old Trafford.
On Monday, Rashford told journalist Henry Winter that he is “ready for a new challenge” amid rumors that the club's INEOS owner is harboring plans to cash in on the Carrington graduate.
Rashford, 27, was left out of Ruben Amorim's squad for this weekend's Manchester derby, which United won dramatically 2-1, with the head coach appearing to question his professionalism in training.
However, ahead of Man Utd's Carabao Cup quarter-final against Tottenham on Thursday, live on Sky Sports, Amorim suggested 'big talent' Rashford still has a big role to play at Old Trafford.
When asked about Rashford's comments, Amorim said: “I think he is right. We have a new challenge here and it is a tough challenge, it is the biggest challenge in football because we are in a difficult situation .This is really a new challenge. I hope all my players are ready for this new challenge.
'Have I spoken to Marcus Rashford? Not yet. It was yesterday, I gave them the day off.”
When pressed on the England international's future, Amorim added: “I just want to win and help the team get better, so we are better with Marcus Rashford. That's simple, we are trying different things to get Marcus to his best level.” that he has shown in the past.
“This kind of club needs great talent and he is a great talent, so we just need him to perform at the highest level and that is my focus. I just want to help Marcus.”
Amorim: Rashford's noise has no impact on the team
Academy player Rashford scored 138 goals in 426 appearances for his boyhood club after bursting onto the scene in February 2016.
But the 27-year-old's form has dropped dramatically over the past 18 months and Sky Sports News first reported that Rashford, who has scored seven times in 24 games this season, was on a collision course with INEOS management and their 'clean culture' . approach earlier this year, after he broke former manager Erik ten Hag's rules for the third time in January.
Ten Hag's replacement Amorim was also unimpressed with Rashford's training pitch registration and general behaviour, which led to him and Alejandro Garnacho being left out of the squad on Sunday.
Despite rumors surrounding Rashford's future, Amorim insists this will not affect his squad ahead of the busy Christmas period, which starts against Spurs on Thursday.
“She [players] are simpler than that,” he said. “They concentrate on their work, I was a player and we are a bit selfish. It doesn't even impact the team.
“We have one more training but it is the same situation as the other players. If they train well then I have to make a choice. We will see at the end of the training. I expect the best from every player every day.”
When asked if he would be open to letting a player leave the club in January, he added: “This is in the future, my focus is that all players are at their best and can be prepared are at every match.”
Watch Tottenham vs Man Utd in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals live on Sky Sports on Thursday; starting at 8 p.m
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