Marcus Rashford told there's 'no way back' at Man Utd after 'nine-millimetre revolver bang' from Ruben Amorim as club legend insists exiled forward should be 'embarrassed'

Rashford has not featured for United since December 12 after falling out of favour under Ruben Amorim and publicly expressing his desire for a "new challenge" away from Old Trafford. After his latest omission from the club's matchday squad against Fulham last weekend, Amorim took a brutal dig at the England international. He said he would rather play United's 63-year-old goalkeeping coach Jorge Vital than Rashford while raising more question marks over his attitude in training.

Red Devils legend Rio Ferdinand has weighed in on the Rashford situation, claiming the 27-year-old should be "embarrassed" after hearing his manager question his efforts on the pitch. Rashford is expected to leave United before the winter transfer window slams shut with Barcelona being closely linked with a move.

Speaking on his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, the former defender said: "If I was that player that the manager said that about, my heart, my pride, my ego - embarrassment. 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 added: "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."

Ferdinand went on to suggest that Amorim cannot reinstate Rashford without setting a worrying precedent. He said: "You’re looking at it and going, ‘He (Amorim, who took charge in November) 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."

Amorim's men will be back in action on Thursday night as they take on FCSB in their final league stage clash in the Europa League.