'I'm not putting in a player I don’t believe is best for the team' - Ruben Amorim brutally declares Marcus Rashford will remain on sidelines at Man Utd 'no matter what' as January transfer speculation ramps up

Rashford was not in the squad again as United fell to a 3-1 defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford. With the exception of Amad Diallo, the Red Devils' forwards have struggled to nail down starting roles as inconsistency and poor finishing plague the squad. Meanwhile, Rashford has made it clear he would like to leave the club, and Amorim has doubled down on his promise to keep the Englishman on the sidelines despite his team being stuck in a "bad moment".

Speaking after the Brighton loss, Amorim said when asked if he could consider recalling Rashford: "It is his choice [not to play]. I don’t want to focus on this bad moment because in the games we lost, Rashford is not here. I don't want to put this moment on Rashford. Rashford is out of this moment because he is not playing. No matter what, I am not going to put out a player I don’t believe is the best for the team."

Amorim will be desperate for a swift end to the saga surrounding the wantaway forward's future as, with each disappointing defeat, his absence becomes an increasingly glaring and obvious question. In the Portuguese coach's opening games, Rashford shone brightly and appeared as if he might be recapturing his best form. However, within weeks, he announced he would like to leave the club and left his new boss in a lurch.

United will be desperate to find a resolution to Rashford's future in the remaining days of the transfer window to put an end to one of the many crises sweeping the club. Amorim declared this United side as the worst in the club's history and will be hoping the Red Devils, currently 13th, do not slide any further down the table. Yet, they face a tricky test away at Fulham next week and the headache may get worse for Amorim still.