Premier League

IF Ruben Amorim did not recognise the scale of his Manchester United task before, he surely does now.Sunday’s 3-0 Old Trafford trouncing by Bournemouth left United  13th at Christmas — seven points closer to the relegation zone than the Prem summit.Ruben Amorim has endured a difficult start to life at Man UtdCredit: PAThe Red Devils endured a humbling defeat to Bournemouth on SundayCredit: AlamyThe Portuguese manager had pondered whether to take the Prem plunge mid-season or wait until the end of the campaign before leaving Sporting Lisbon.Unsurprisingly, the lure of Old Trafford and turning around a suffering beast proved too great.But Amorim needs to wave a magic wand fast or risk seeing the  season unravel, with dire consequences for summer recruitment.Amorim has a preferred 3-4-3 formation and plenty of the squad he  inherited are not designed to play in such a system.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLIf fans did not believe that a few weeks ago, they will do now.SunSport looks at the five players  Amorim needs to build his team around, the five who must be pushed through the  exit door and those whose future remains in their hands… STAYERS —MANUEL UGARTEUruguayan midfielder struggled in his early games but that might have been because everything Erik ten Hag touched had already started turning to dust.In recent weeks, Ugarte has looked like the real deal, with a genuine ability to do that vital dirty work in the middle.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThe Uruguayan has shown signs of life under AmorimCredit: RexAMAD DIALLOIvorian wideman has been at United for five years — but is starting to turn his promise into something concrete.Amorim needs the wider players in his attacking trident to be able to invert and cause problems but also have the ability to attack in the outer areas of the pitch. Amad ticks all those boxes, with pace to burn.Old Trafford starts LEAKING midway through Ruben Amorim’s Man Utd press conference as fans say ‘perfect metaphor’Amad Diallo has been a bright spot in an otherwise dreary season at UnitedCredit: RexLENY YOROAnother United youngster and plagued by injuries after his summer arrival from Lille.Plenty for the 19-year-old to learn and assuming Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire stay, they can help him live up to the reputation he arrived with from France.Leny Yoro arrived from France with heaps of potentialCredit: GettyBRUNO FERNANDESSome still accuse the Portuguese of being a flat-track bully but he remains at the creative hub of most of the things United do well.Of course, Amorim needs his captain to lead, not hide, and Fernandes still has games where he might go missing. But if he plays well, usually so do United.Bruno Fernandes remains at the heart of Man UtdCredit: RexKOBBIE MAINOOMissed the start of the Amorim era through injury and three defeats in the four matches since his return does not augur well.Mainoo, though, is still short of match sharpness. Yes, the 19-year-old makes mistakes.But he has the ability to make a mark in midfield and can forge a proper partnership with Ugarte, given time to work on it.Kobbie Mainoo remains one of United’s most promising playersCredit: RexLEAVERS —MARCUS RASHFORDRashford’s decision to go public on his willingness to leave his boyhood club might make things easier for Amorim than if he was seen to be pushing the England man out of the door.But it was hard to see the forward being a natural fit for the Amorim system — even before the fallout of the past two weeks.Unlike many of the potential discards, selling Rashford makes some economic sense, too, as any transfer fee can be calculated at full book value in the club’s Profit and Sustainability Rules accounting.Marcus Rashford has signalled his desire to leave UnitedCredit: GettyANTONYPlenty of Stretford End regulars saw through the Brazilian after a couple of months when he joined in the summer of 2022.Nearly 2-and-a-half years later, the rest of the  United supporters have caught up.Winger Antony represents the worst of Ten Hag’s scoop-up of Eredivisie players that he knew from his Ajax days.The £85.5million flop offers nothing. Getting rid, even at a massive loss, is the only option.Antony is producing another dreadful seasonCredit: GettyCASEMIROThe Brazilian’s arrival from Real Madrid might have made sense at the time and he did score in the Carabao Cup final win over Newcastle in 2023.Yet United are now forking out a fortune for a midfielder who can barely rumble, let alone run, and who has been overtaken by the harshest enemy of all — time.Casemiro’s best days in football appear to be behind himCredit: AlamyLISANDRO MARTINEZAnother Ten Hag project who appears to be dialling it in over recent weeks — and making far too many mistakes.The Argentine defender has never been that physically imposing but he keeps shrinking from battle.He looks like a player who does not want to be there.Lisandro Martinez has not delivered this seasonCredit: RexLUKE SHAWHarsh to blame the England left-back — but his body is letting him down so much that Amorim cannot rely on him ever being fit.Shaw would have been ideal as the left-sided wing-back for the next two years if he could guarantee availability. But he simply cannot.Luke Shaw has suffered desperately with injuriesCredit: RexLOTS TO PROVE —MASON MOUNTAnother whose issues are physical but just nine Prem starts in 18 months since his move from Chelsea tell you everything about the England midfielder.Mount, if fit, could definitely have a role, even if off the bench. Yet what are the chances of him staying available for long enough?Mason Mount was forced off early against Man CityCredit: PARASMUS HOJLUNDUnited thought enough of the Dane’s potential to pay £64m up front to land him from Atalanta — and he will probably get the chance to be first-choice No 9.Hojlund, though, has yet to convince that he is the natural predator United hoped they were signing.He remains very much a work in progress.Rasmus Hojlund has shown flashes of promiseCredit: RexALEJANDRO GARNACHODropped for the 2-1 derby win over City and in the line of fire by some as United’s mole hunt continues, the winger made the right response in training.Three Prem goals this season, though, is a poor return and that Puskas Award for his bicycle-kick stunner at Everton last term will mean little to the new manager.Alejandro Garnacho has flattered to deceive this seasonCredit: GettyJOSHUA ZIRKZEEPrecious little, so far, to suggest the Dutch striker can have a long-term Old Trafford future.However, it makes little sense to ditch him after just a few months at the club.Zirkzee has to demonstrate he is mobile and dangerous — to make things happen rather than wait for opportunities to fall at his feet.Joshua Zirkzee has not yet delivered since joining from BolognaCredit: RexNOUSSAIR MAZRAOUIVersatility and the ability to play in a number of roles at the back may help the Moroccan.READ MORE SUN STORIESYet he has done little so far  to indicate he will be a part of the furniture for too long.Hard to see him operating as a wing-back other than when injuries kick in and does he have the defensive resilience to be trusted in a back three? Up to him to provide the answer.Noussair Mazraoui arrived from Bayern in the summerCredit: Rex More

MARCUS RASHFORD is still exiled from Manchester United by manager Ruben Amorim – despite “WANTING” to play.The forward has been left out of United’s last three matches, starting before they beat City 2-1 in the Manchester derby. Marcus Rashford is still exiled from Manchester United by manager Ruben AmorimRashford said he is ready to leave Man UtdCredit: GettyAnd Rashford threw his future into doubt by sensationally revealing he is ready “for a new challenge.” The 27-year-old England international has since been dropped from the squad entirely by his manager. Amorim said: “It’s my decision. He wants to play. He is trying. Yes, it’s my decision, only my decision. “No, I spoke with a lot of players individually during training so I’m trying to do things my way. And it’s the only way I know. READ MORE ON MAN UTD”If I don’t do that, I will lose myself and I will not lose myself. I know what I am doing.” Rashford will not travel to Wolves with United on Boxing Day.And SunSport revealed his team-mates are furious after he revealed plans to try and leave the club. Rashford could even be loaned out in January to try and resolve the situation. Most read in FootballWhy Rashford joining Arsenal is perfect fitBy Martin LiptonMARCUS RASHFORD is at a crossroads.But now the England star has to make the biggest choice he has ever faced – does he care about cash, or about his career?Rashford’s shock admission that he is “ready for a new challenge” after some two decades under the Manchester United umbrella has altered the dynamic around his future.That Rashford might not fit the blueprint of Ruben Amorim – who has now responded to Rashford’s comments – was not exactly a surprise.The Portuguese coach prefers a 3-4-3 formation but appears to have settled on Rasmus Hojlund as his starting central striker and wants two “narrow” inside forwards, with the width coming from the wing-backs.Rashford has always wanted to play through the middle but is often at his best exploiting spaces out wide – and that skillset does not necessarily suit the way Amorim wants to play.Even so, going public with his evident dissatisfaction at being bombed entirely from the squad for the Manchester derby was a major move, even if he vowed there would be “no hard feelings” if he does leave his boyhood club.In truth, Rashford has been leaving United almost from the moment he signed that new £325,000 per week contract in 2023.Something was broken in his connection to the club. His form dropped, his threat dissipated, his issues with the hierarchy deepened.When Erik ten Hag dropped him for hosting a birthday party after a derby defeat, and he later pulled a sickie to miss the FA Cup game with Newport, it felt even then that the writing was on the wall.The facts suggest the love affair has ended. After scoring 30 in all competitions to earn that new deal, he has scored just 15 in the 18 months since it was signed.Amorim’s arrival seems merely to have accelerated what was increasingly inevitable.Now, though, it is up to Rashford to determine what his future will bring.If it is only about the money, then his options might be somewhat limited.It is hard to see a Prem rival coughing up the same £16.9m annual salary – although Rashford’s comments have probably knocked £20m-plus off any transfer fee, even next month.But Real Madrid have their fill of big-money strikers and Barcelona’s budget remains restricted by La Liga financial controls.In Europe, then, that probably leaves PSG – but a move to a one-club league.Or, in the wider world, he could follow the likes of Ivan Toney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Roberto Firmino and Co and head to the Saudi desert.Lucrative, yep. Certainly a different environment – and that may be exactly what Rashford both wants and needs. But the football? Not in a million years.What Rashford needs, above all, is to be able to play for trophies and showcase his talents.There is no better stage than the Premier League – which has far more global eyeballs on it than any other domestic competition.And in that Premier League there is one club crying out for a goalscoring No 9, especially if he can also play down the left channel to balance out the side and widen its threat.Rashford has always been more Longsight than London.Yet Arsenal, and Mikel Arteta, might be the perfect fit.The Gunners’ lack of a proper scorer is one of the major factors many fans feel has hurt their title challenge this year.Gabriel Jesus has never been a natural finisher, while Kai Havertz is still a converted midfielder.And while the link-up between Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka makes their right flank deadly, faith in Gabriel Martinelli on the left is waning.There have not been too many who succeeded at Arsenal after leaving United – although Danny Welbeck was not a flop.Rashford has all the attributes to change that history, if he can reproduce what everybody knows is inside him.And by breaking free, giving himself the chance to start all over, Rashford can make a point to Amorim that will resonate for a very long time.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSIt comes after he incredibly told journalist Henry Winter: “For me, personally, I think I’m ready for a new challenge and the next steps.”He added: “When I leave it’s going to be ‘no hard feelings’. ‘Not just Marcus’ – Ruben Amorim has theory on who’s behind bombshell Rashford interview and will ‘forget it.. for now'”You’re not going to have any negative comments from me about Manchester United. That’s me as a person.”If I know that a situation is already bad I’m not going to make it worse.”I’ve seen how other players have left in the past and I don’t want to be that person.”When I leave, I’ll make a statement, and it will be from me.”Rashford has been dropped by AmorimCredit: Getty More