Marcus Rashford latest: Manchester United striker named in squad for Newcastle game | Football News

Marcus Rashford has been named in Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United squad for Newcastle’s visit to Old Trafford, live on Monday Night Football.

Amorim has named the bench striker who will face Eddie Howe’s side in Man Utd’s final game of 2024.

Rashford has not played since being substituted in the 56th minute in Man Utd’s 2-1 win over Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League on December 12.

Monday, December 30th, 6:30 p.m

Kick-off is 8:00 p.m

He has since missed four games over the festive period – including the win at Manchester City as well as defeats against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup and against Bournemouth and Wolves in the Premier League.

Neville: Why did Amorim bring Rashford back?

Sky Sports’ Gary Neville at Old Trafford:

“A lack of goals is a big problem. The fact that someone with this profile was completely excluded from the team and almost thrown away in recent weeks was always a question for Ruben Amorim until he brought him back. The question tonight is, why did you bring him back? It may be quite obvious.

“They don’t score many goals. They obviously have suspensions and players out of form and may think he has improved in training over the last few days, but that is a big question for Amorim tonight. Why did he do that?” has brought him back now? Apparently Bruno Fernandes is suspended.

“What mood will Marcus Rashford be in? How will the audience feel about him? There are questions that need to be answered, but it’s not ideal.”

Why did Amorim dump Rashford?

Amorim previously revealed he dropped the striker due to “selection reasons” rather than injury or illness when he started for the Manchester derby at the Etihad earlier this month when Alejandro Garnacho was also not included in the 20-man squad was recorded on match day.

When asked to explain the decision to leave out Rashford and Garnacho, United coach Amorim said Sky Sports: “Selection.

“We try to evaluate everything – training, performance, game performance, engagement with teammates, pushing teammates forward.”

“Everything is at stake when we analyze and select the players, so it was my selection. Very easy. I don’t want to send a message (to the locker room) with this. It’s just a review and they know it.” .

“The players are really smart and so everyone understands my decision and I have to make a decision. It’s just a simple choice.”

“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 dress before the game. Everything. I make my assessment and then have to decide. I have a lot of players to choose from.” (from) and today I made my choice.

Garnacho was recalled for Spurs’ Carabao Cup visit on December 19. Conversely, Rashford was still absent and the England international subsequently conducted an interview with journalist Henry Winter in which he revealed that he was “ready for a new challenge”.

Amorim then questioned the decision-making from the player’s camp after these public comments were made about his future at Old Trafford.

“It’s a difficult situation,” Amorim said Sky Sports. “I understand that these players have a lot of people around them who make decisions that are not the player’s first idea.”

“I’m always here to help Marcus as another player. I have to do what I have to do. You decided to do the interview because it’s not just about Marcus. I understand that.”

“As a coach, I focus on performance and the way you train. For the rest, it’s better for me and the club to deal with it when the time comes.”

“Right now my focus is on improving Marcus and we need a talented man like Marcus. I’ll forget about the interview now and see what I see on the pitch.”

Amorim then left Rashford out of his squad for the fourth game in a row, but after another heavy defeat against Wolves at Molineux, the new manager offered the striker the chance to make an impact in United’s final game of 2024.

Rashford to the rescue? The damning statistics behind Amorim’s launch

• Manchester United have lost four of their last five Premier League games, as many defeats as they have lost in their last 15 games in the competition (seven wins, four draws).
• Only Everton and Southampton (both nine) have failed to score in more games this season than United have in seven.
• Amorim is the first Manchester United manager to lose five of his first ten games in charge of the club in all competitions since Walter Crickmer in January 1932 (six/ten).
• No team has conceded more goals from corners in the Premier League this season than Manchester United (nine – level with Wolves).