MANCHESTER, England — Ruben Amorim has indicated that he would prefer to include Manchester United’s goalkeeper coach in his lineup over Marcus Rashford, highlighting concerns about the forward’s commitment to the club.

Rashford, who has struggled for form and playing time, has not participated in a match for his local team since December 12. He is increasingly sidelined under the current management, having again been excluded from the squad during their recent 1-0 victory against Fulham in the Premier League.

Amorim took his criticism further by suggesting that Jorge Vital, United’s 63-year-old goalkeeper coach, is more likely to see playing time than the England international forward. He shared his views just a day before his 40th birthday: “It’s always the same reason why Rashford is not playing. The reason has to do with training, which I believe a footballer should prioritize in all aspects of life, every single day. If nothing changes, then I won’t change my stance,” he explained.

“Every player finds themselves in the same scenario—if you put in maximum effort and adhere to the right practices, then every player is available for selection. Today, while sitting on the bench, we certainly felt a lack of speed to influence the match, but I prefer to field Vital instead of a player who isn’t fully committed every day,” Amorim continued.

Despite the ongoing criticism, Rashford remains active in supporting social causes, having previously fought against child poverty during the COVID crisis. Recently, he posted a message on social media expressing his congratulations to his teammates for their victory: “Congratulations on the win lads.”