Ruben Amorim suggested he’d pick Manchester United’s 63-year-old goalkeeping coach ahead of Marcus Rashford after their win at Fulham.
The Red Devils got back to winning ways in the Premier League by grinding out a 1-0 win in an uninspiring clash at Craven Cottage without Rashford.
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The winner came through an unlikely source as Lisandro Martinez’s shot deflected up and over Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
Martinez’s goal was ‘lucky’ by the player’s own admission and was Man United’s first and only shot on target of the entire match.
Introducing a player of Rashford’s quality could have been option for Amorim had the Portuguese boss included the 27-year-old in his matchday squad.
But for the seventh time in the last eight Premier League matches Rashford wasn’t selected by Amorim, who once again cited a lack of work-ethic as the reason for the forward’s omission.
Amorim admitted that Man United’s performance lacked the pace Rashford possesses in abundance but added that he’d rather select goalkeeping coach Jorge Vital than any player who wasn’t willing to pull their weight.
When asked about Rashford’s absence, Amorim said: “It’s always the same reason. The reasons is the training, the way I see what a footballer should do. In training, in life and it’s every day, every detail. So if things don’t change, I will not change.
“It’s the same situation for every player. If you do the maximum, if you do the right things, we can use every player.”
“And you can see it today on the bench – we miss a little bit of pace to go, to change the game, to move some pieces but I prefer like that.
“I will put Vital before I put a player that don’t give the maximum every day so I will not change in that.”
Rashford hasn’t played for the Red Devils since their 3-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest on December 7.
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He spoke of his desire to pursue a ‘new challenge’ later in December amid growing speculation on his Old Trafford future.
The England international looked set to join AC Milan, however, the signing of Kyle Walker from Manchester City and Brexit rules prevented that move from happening.
talkSPORT understands Man United are keen to offload Rashford but are less optimistic about finding any takers for him.
Rashford has been on Man United’s books since joining their academy at the age of seven, making his professional debut for them in February 2016 aged 18.
He has 138 goals in 426 appearances for the club, winning two FA Cups, two League Cups and the Europa League in his senior career.
