Sky Sports pundit details ‘big worry’ he has with £300k-p/w Utd man after watching Amorim’s first game

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·28 novembre 2024

Sky Sports pundit details ‘big worry’ he has with £300k-p/w Utd man after watching Amorim’s first game

Manchester United are undergoing their final preparations ahead of Ruben Amorim’s maiden match in the Old Trafford dugout this evening.

Indeed, the new head coach will take the hot seat in M16 for the first time since he was chosen to succeed Erik ten Hag at the helm of England’s most successful club.

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Awaiting him tonight is a Europa League group-stage tie against Norweigan outfit Bodø/Glimt, and fans are already speculating over the XI he’ll deploy in comparison to last Sunday’s draw at Portman Road.

Rather than playing Marcus Rashford in a wing-back role, Amorim utilised the No.10 at centre-forward, therefore overlooking both natural strikers – Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee – in the squad.

Rashford repaid his manager’s faith almost instantaneously when he opened the scoring inside two minutes to record his second Premier League goal of the campaign, though he was unable to find another breakthrough before being withdrawn in the 68th minute.

Paul Merson has one ‘big worry’ regarding Rashford

(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Whether Amorim will stick to his guns this time around remains to be seen. It’s been no secret in the past that the 27-year-old is more comfortable playing off of his favoured left flank and, for him to do so, one of Alejandro Garnacho or Amad Diallo will have to be sacrificed.

Paul Merson weighed in on Rashford’s situation on Sky Sports News this morning, detailing his concerns over the role he’s set to play under the new gaffer.

“I’m a great believer that the cream always rises to the top,” Merson began. “We talk about talent, we talk about great players, but great players work hard and he’s worked hard to get where he is. He’s never had this situation where he’s not first-choice anymore. He needs to get a bit [more] consistent.

“I don’t like him as a centre-forward. I don’t think he is a centre-forward. Having his back to play isn’t Marcus Rashford. Holding the ball up, he needs to be running with the ball at goal, not having his back to goal. I don’t know where they will find space for him in this team – that’s my big worry.”