Amorim, Rashford no longer United

Rashford celebrates after winning the English FA Cup final with Manchester United against crosstown rival Manchester City at London's Wembley Stadium on May 25.

'Distraction'

As questions over his work ethic persisted, former United captain Gary Neville, now a Sky Sports pundit, warned him to "calm down", saying: "He's going through a dip in form, but it can become your personality if you're not careful".

But, he endured numerous lengthy spells without finding the goal as Ten Hag struggled to lift United last season.

Rashford was not entirely to blame for his loss of form, as a succession of managers deployed him as both a winger and a central striker, denying him the chance to grow into one role.

He was left out of England's Euro 2024 squad and responded in limp fashion, managing just one goal in his first 11 league appearances this season.

A trip to New York, where he was pictured attending an NBA game during the November international break, was interpreted as further evidence that Rashford had lost focus.

He ended his barren streak by scoring the first goal of Ruben Amorim's reign after only 81 seconds at Ipswich in November.

But Amorim, who had arrived from Sporting Lisbon to replace the sacked Ten Hag, dropped a bombshell when he left Rashford out of the squad for United's win at Manchester City in mid-December, questioning his attitude and work ethic.

Days later, the forward, who has not played since for United, said he was "ready for a new challenge".

Amorim has been bombarded by questions about the player ever since, but stuck to broadly the same talking points.

Last week he made perhaps his strongest statement yet, saying the club's 63-year-old goalkeeping coach had a better chance of making his team than Rashford.

"The reason is the training, what I think a footballer should do in training, in life and every day. If things don't change, I will not change," he said. "It's the same situation for every player. If you do the maximum, and the right things, then we can use every player."