One Man Utd ace has already played his last game for the club, lineup vs Newcastle will prove it conclusively

Add as preferred source on Google

Manchester United will play their fourth game in just over ten days when they host Newcastle at Old Trafford which only means one thing.

After making just two changes to the side that lost against Bournemouth for the game against Wolves, more can be expected for this home game.

Ruben Amorim is getting an idea of what his first XI should be and even though it hasn’t started clicking for him or the team, it’s a positive step in a sea of unknowns.

However, amidst all the moving parts at Old Trafford right now, from the Marcus Rashford situation to the multiple suspensions for this game in Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte, the lineup will be a headache for the Man Utd manager.

What won’t be a headache when the XI drops for this game is that one Man Utd player has already played his last game for the club if he doesn’t make the team.

Biggest litmus test for Marcus Rashford’s status

So far, Marcus Rashford has been dropped from four consecutive squads and while the decision hasn’t been vindicated in three of those games, Amorim has stuck to his guns.

To be fair to Amorim, he had multiple options for the two No 10 positions and the striker spot is rotated between Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund.

Furthermore, Rashford was hardly setting the world alight when he did play but the circumstances have changed a bit for the game against Newcastle.

Not only is this United’s fourth game in just over ten days, Amorim will be without his captain and his first-choice midfielder.

That creates a selection quandary for Amorim because outside of being brave and selecting someone like Toby Collyer from the start, he will have to compromise on what he wants from his team.

Casemiro or Christian Eriksen will need to come in but most importantly, one No 10 spot remains open. Either Kobbie Mainoo is pushed up, and considering Amad might be more useful as a wing-back right now, the other No 10 is open too.

Amorim is unlikely to sacrifice his striker depth by deploying Zirkzee as an attacking midfielder alongside Rasmus Hojlund so if there was ever a game that provided a natural return path for Rashford to the first-team fold, it’s this one.

Ruben Amorim’s words won’t matter after Newcastle

Publicly, Amorim has maintained his stance that there’s a way back for Rashford if he applies himself correctly and forces his way back into his plans.

Andy Mitten’s claim about Rashford doesn’t help the narrative around the player but Amorim has played it masterfully so far because this stance keeps the door ajar for him.

There’s an inkling in the fanbase that Rashford has played his last game for the club already but so far, Amorim’s public stance has pushed back against that narrative.

However, if Rashford isn’t in the squad vs Newcastle despite all the factors surrounding the team for this one, Amorim’s words won’t matter because his actions will have spoken much louder.

This shouldn’t have been the way it ends for an academy product at the club but it is long overdue at this point.