Ruben Amorim faces the daunting prospect of facing Liverpool on Sunday afternoon and the Manchester United head coach is again being told it is wise to change his captain
Manchester United face a daunting clash with Liverpool this afternoon having lost five of their past six games and with Ruben Amorim saying the team are in a “survival” battle.
But with forwards such as Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee struggling to score, with Marcus Rashford’s future at the club in doubt, a former defender has suggested club record goalscorer Wayne Rooney should be offered a role as a striker coach.
Meanwhile, it has been reported that Amorim questioned Rashford about an alleged night out before dropping him last month and the head coach has also been told to strip Bruno Fernandes of the captaincy.
Here are the big stories from in and around Old Trafford with no suggestion yet of any movement in the transfer window.
Rashford ‘night out’
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim asked Marcus Rashford about a post-match night out before banishing him from his matchday squad for a run of matches, it has been claimed.
Rashford started and scored in each of Amorim’s first two matches in charge, including a brace against Everton.
However, he has not been named in a league starting line-up since and has publicly stated his desire to leave the club.
Captaincy change
Ruben Amorim has been urged to restore Harry Maguire to the captaincy as his Manchester United reign continues to falter.
The Red Devils have lost their last four games in all competitions, conceding 11 goals in the process. One of those defeats was to struggling Wolves, during which skipper Bruno Fernandes was sent off after picking up two yellow cards.
It was the third time the midfielder has picked up a red card this season and has led to fresh scrutiny on his position as captain. Lisandro Martinez was handed the armband for the defeat to Newcastle in Fernandes’ absence.
But former skipper Maguire was also in the line-up and Amorim has now been told to give the Englishman a second chance.
Rooney offer
Wayne Rooney may only be out of work five days after being sacked by Plymouth Argyle but a former team-mate has suggested Manchester United’s record goalscorer return to Old Trafford as a striker coach.
Plymouth called an end to Rooney’s time in charge on New Year’s Eve after nine games without a win. He had been in charge for just seven months and leaves with the club bottom of the Championship table.
Rooney has already been linked with big-money offers to become a regular television pundit but Wes Brown believes a specialist role would suit Rooney down to the ground, while Ruben Amorim’s team continue to struggle in front of goal.
“If Wayne wanted to spend time as a striking coach he would be absolutely brilliant at it, he was one of the best goalscorers we’ve ever seen and was a top playmaker as well,” Brown told The Sports Daily.
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