Manchester United attacker Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford faces an uncertain future at Manchester United
Ruben Amorim's decision to leave Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho out of Manchester United's derby with Manchester City has left more questions than answers.
Both players were left out of the squad altogether on Sunday despite neither carrying any injuries. Amorim explained his decision pre-match, sending a warning to his United squad.
"I don't want to send a message," he said. "It's simply an evaluation, and they know it. The players are really, really smart and so everybody understands my decision and I have to choose. It's just simple selection.
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"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 your clothes to go to the game. Everything. I make my evaluation and then I have to decide. I have a lot of players to choose and today I made my choice.
"It's the same all the time, they all understand there's a communication that after the last training is going to the WhatsApp and then they receive the information. They are alright, they had training this morning, I was there because it is important for every player - even Jonny Evans because Jonny Evans also and Toby (Collyer) was there - I was there during training and everything was OK. They trained really well."
Leaving two key, attacking players out has left many wondering what's next for Garnacho and Rashford. Here, MEN Sport writers have their say on the situation.
Josh Holland
You do get the feeling that this is Amorim putting a marker down. New to the job and pressure around the job, the Portuguese has already raised eyebrows over his actions. Dropping Rashford and Garnacho is some way to do that, that's for sure.
However, his words before the derby would point towards something off the pitch. Problems away from football have impacted Rashford before and he returned very quickly. We could see both players return to the squad against Tottenham on Thursday.
But should this be a long-term issue, we could see the start of a huge fire sale at United. Talk of Rashford leaving the club has resurfaced once again this month but the thought of Garnacho leaving is something out of the ordinary.
For many, including me, he has the potential to become a brilliant servant for United. At only 20, he has plenty of room to grow and his sale would be another club's gain. But if he's becoming a problem for Amorim, who knows what is next.
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Jack Flintham
It is hard not to read so much into Rashford missing the derby after yet another difficult campaign to date. Leaving him out of the clash with Manchester City is huge considering the inexperience of Amad and Mason Mount's lack of games.
Perhaps the biggest concern watching United on Sunday was that you would not have expected United to play any better if Rashford was in the squad. And that is what is so damning.
So what to do? Well, for me, the time seems right to sell him. His race appears to have been run at Old Trafford and £40million, as is believed to be his value, would go a long way to helping Ruben Amorim improve this squad.
It is a difficult end to his time at his boyhood club and there is no doubting he cares deeply about United. But, there are a number of people who want United to do well but you don't entrust all of them to play week in, week out.
For whatever reason, things are not working for Rashford at United and a fresh start could do both parties the world of good.
As for Garnacho, I would be less concerned about his future ending soon. He remains young and there is still time for him to come good in the Amorim system.
It will take a lot for him to regain some trust though, particularly with Amad excelling so much. Unlike Rashford, Garnacho may be given more time to adapt.
Bruna Reis
Following the recent noise around Rashford’s future, it’s difficult to not associate his absence from the Manchester derby with that. Ruben Amorim’s decision to leave Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho out of a significant game like this, while opting to play Amad and Mason Mount, despite their lack of games is very telling - that’s for sure.
It’s clear to see that Rashford Is far from being the player he once was at the club and Sunday’s win proved that the squad can win games in his absence. A fresh start definitely feels like it would be the right thing for him in this moment in time.
While the club won’t get anywhere near £80million for him, £40million as reports suggest, is a more realistic figure that would go a long way for United when it comes to improving the squad. As for Garnacho, I don’t think this is the end of his United career but it was more of a tactical decision by the Portuguese manager.
At 20, he still has plenty to offer to the squad but may need more time to adapt to the new system of play. With that said, he faces competition from Amad for a spot in the starting lineup given the latter's recent form.
Tom Coley
This doesn't have to be game over for Rashford at United but it certainly feels like it's going to be. With January around the corner and Amorim going from starting him - with three quick goals - to dropping him entirely, things are moving too quickly in one direction.
Really, it has been coming as well. Rashford has not seemed happy at United for well over 18 months now and it just doesn't look likely to change. To get a proper fresh start under Amorim this is the sort of thing that needs nipping in the bud.
Someone will spend money on him. It won't be the £80million or more that United could easily have gotten a few years back, though. Maybe Paris Saint-Germain rear themselves again. Maybe Arsenal make a surprise play. Could he join Chelsea and Jadon Sancho? This situation is eerily similar to how he ended up leaving.
As for Garnacho, his future is his own to decide right now. He is young enough and has control over what comes next. United won't want to sell him but if things don't turn around quickly then they will be left no choice because a manager has already gone. The decision-makers will back Amorin and their own judgement over player power here. The ball is in his court.
James Quinlan
There was once a time Rashford would have been the youthful face of Man United's future, unfortunately now he seems to be associated with everything wrong with this club.
This particular situation doesn't have to be the end of his Old Trafford career, but I think for the sake of Ruben Amorim building a squad with his own imprint it would be a statement to make the 27-year-old surplus to requirements and bring in players of his own.
Controversy doesn't have to be the end of Rashford - his numbers are simply not good enough and this stagnant era needs to be brought to an end. Sell him to a foreign team like Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich - not an English rival, is my warning.
Garnacho on the other hand, he has a long career ahead and flashes of talent over recent seasons have proven that he can be influential at Man United.
But that is only if he bucks his ideas up to become the best player he can be, rather than get caught up in everything else. Any more signs of trouble and I hope the club would be swift in their decision-making.
Stephen Killen
Make of it what you will, but it appears that Ruben Amorim is sending a message to the rest of the squad and drive the standards for the future. It has been a commendable start for the Portuguese tactician as he looks to shoulder the responsibility to steer United forward.
It is unlikely that the omission will lead to Rashford and Garnacho left out of the squad regularly before they are shown the exit door, the 39-year-old has looked to send a message that things need to change at Old Trafford. Garnacho is still young and a dip in form was likely after he was so heavily depended on last season, and in stages this term.
But the England international's struggles have been well documented and he has had highs at the Theatre of Dreams but the speculation rages on over his future.
And the links away from the north west persist, Roy Keane said it himself that leaving the club could be beneficial for his career. While that is a good argument, it is in Rashford's hands to let his football do the talking.
Amorim can't afford to let the saga become a sideshow to his time at Old Trafford as Erik ten Hag was forced to deal with in the situations surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho and Rashford.