Why Ruben Amorim didn't use Marcus Rashford from the bench in Manchester United defeat to Newcastle

Ruben Amorim defended his decision to leave Marcus Rashford on the bench during Manchester United’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle on Monday night.

The 27-year-old returned to the United squad for the first time in five matches, having missed four successive games due to 'selection' reasons, but remained an unused substitute as his side lost for the fifth time in their last six Premier League clashes.

Rashford has not played for United since he admitted he was 'ready for a new challenge' earlier in the month, though Amorim has publicly reiterated his preference is for the 'big talent' to stay at the club.

It remains to be seen what the future holds for the forward, but Amorim insists every decision he makes is for the greater benefit of the team, rather than for any individual. Quizzed on the decision to leave Rashford on the bench, he told reporters: "I think about the team, you think a lot about Marcus. I just want to win the game. You can feel it. I want win the game."

Manchester World understands United will listen to offers for Rashford in the January transfer window and there is added incentive to sell the homegrown forward due to the fact he is an academy product because any transfer fee would count as pure profit on the balance sheets.

United are not expected to make any major moves of their own in the upcoming window and Amorim reiterated that any signings would depend on player sales. He added: "We don’t have that possibility in January if we don’t take some players, you know the situation better than me. It is not that I am arriving here and can spend money changing the team."