Marcus Rashford was seen in training with Manchester United ahead of their Europa League tie, days after head coach Ruben Amorim had criticised the forward’s application.
Man United’s head coach took a swipe at Rashford after the Red Devils’ win at Fulham on Sunday by declaring that he would rather pick his 63-year-old goalkeeper coach Jorge Vital than the England forward.
‘The reason is the training, what I think a footballer should do in training, in life and every day,’ Amorim said.
‘I will put Vital before I put a player who doesn’t give the maximum every day.’
Rashford was seen in Man United’s latest training session ahead of the Red Devils’ match against Romanian side FCSB on Thursday, their final league phase match in the Europa League.
The forward’s future has remained uncertain this month having been linked with moves away, while he has not featured in Man United’s last 11 matches.
Marcus Rashford was among the Man United players training ahead of their Europa League tie
Man United boss Ruben Amorim had criticised Rashford’s application in training last weekend
Amorim claimed he would rather play 63-year-old goalkeeper coach Jorge Vital than Rashford
He last played for Man United on December 12, before being axed from the squad for the Manchester derby.
The 27-year-old had admitted last month he was ready for a new challenge away from Man United.
Vital, who had been cited by Amorim in the head coach’s response to a question about Rashford, was seen overseeing the goalkeeper’s training session at Carrington.
Amorim’s comments have generated further discussion around Rashford, with ex-Man United defender Rio Ferdinand claiming there is ‘no way back’ for the forward at the club.
‘If I was that player that the manager said that about, my heart, my pride, my ego – embarrassment,’ Ferdinand on his Rio Presents YouTube channel.
‘For someone to question your application, to question [whether] you’re going out there and giving 100 per cent for your team, [suggesting] that you’re going to slack off and you’re taking shortcuts…
‘We all have days off or moments when we’re not performing well, lacking confidence, but effort isn’t really one of the things I would want to be hearing a manager say is lacking in my makeup.
‘That’s a damning comment, because I think he knows what the reaction is after that comment. He’s not saying that without thinking, ‘Where does this go after?’ There’s really no way back for Marcus after that, I don’t think, with that type of comment.
Vital was seen overseeing the goalkeeper’s training session at Carrington on Wednesday
Rashford has been strongly linked with leaving Man United during the transfer window
Casemiro was among those in training amid interest from Roma in the veteran midfielder
Alejandro Garnacho has been the subject of interest from Chelsea and Napoli in January
Man United were handed a boost with the return of Luke Shaw to training on Wednesday
‘You’re looking at it and going, “He has only been there a short bit of time and he’s actually straight away gone, he’s pulled out the nine-millimetre revolver and just gone bang”. There’s no way back from that.
‘If he comes back, that means other players can now take their foot off the gas and still have a way back into the team.’
Rashford is among the Man United players with uncertain futures at the club seen in training, with Casemiro and Alejandro Garnacho the subject of interest.
Mail Sport reported on Tuesday that Italian side Roma have explored a deal for Casemiro.
The 32-year-old is United’s top earner on £375,000-a-week and his salary would be an obstacle in any discussions. Casemiro’s situation is similar to Marcus Rashford in that United would have to subsidise his wages if he joined another club for the rest of the season.
Garnacho has been linked with possible moves to Chelsea and Napoli in recent weeks.
Amorim was handed a boost by the return of left back Luke Shaw to training following injury.
Man United are well placed in fourth in the Europa League ahead of Thursday’s final league phase matches, where the Red Devils will bid to seal a top eight finish.
