Alan Shearer says new Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim could ‘move on’ Marcus Rashford after taking over at Old Trafford.
Portuguese coach Amorim was confirmed as United’s new manager on Friday but will not take charge of the team until the next international breaks begins on November 11.
Amorim quickly emerged as Manchester United’s first-choice target after the struggling Premier League club decided to sack Erik ten Hag at the start of the week.
Ten Hag won two trophies during his spell in charge at Old Trafford but United finished eighth in the Premier League last season and had slipped to 14th when he was dismissed.
Shearer insists Amorim has a massive job on his hands and says one of his first tasks will be to ‘work out who he wants to keep and who he wants to push to one side’.
Rashford could fall into the latter category, according to Shearer, following his struggles at Old Trafford.
The Manchester United academy graduate scored 30 goals in Ten Hag’s first season at the club but that figure fell to eight last term. Rashford has just one league goal so far this season.
‘Ruben Amorim will have his own ideas,’ Shearer told Betfair. ‘He’ll work out who he wants to keep and who he wants to push to one side.
‘Marcus Rashford is one he must think about and get right. Does he keep him or look to move him on?
‘There is no doubt of the ability there – the 30-odd goals he scored a couple of years ago tells you that there’s ability in there – but can Amorim get it out of him once again and restore his confidence?
‘It’s just where Marcus is at this moment in time and whether he wants to do it. We haven’t seen enough from him of late and why that is I don’t know as we’re not inside the football club.’
Speaking more generally about Amorim’s appointment, Shearer added: ‘Sporting are obviously a very big club but nowhere near as big as Man United, who’re one of, if not the biggest club in the world.
‘You can see the reaction, the scrutiny and the intensity that’s put on that club every week. He looks very promising, very good, and you cannot argue with the job he has done at Sporting, but it is without doubt a step up at Manchester United.
‘If he is the man to take over, then you’d think the team can improve quite quickly; there’s no doubt that Man United are better than 14th in the Premier League. How good they can be remains to be seen.
‘Without additions, I doubt they are top four material at this stage. We’ll have to wait and see if they can do business in January but they’re much better than 14th position.’
Manchester United thumped Leicester City 5-2 in their first game since Ten Hag’s sacking.
Interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy oversaw that victory and will continue to take charge of his former club until Amorim’s arrival later in the month.
United play host to dynamic Chelsea on Sunday and Shearer has revealed his prediction for the intriguing clash at the Theatre of Dreams.
‘When a manager leaves and another comes in, there’ll be a different atmosphere, a renewed hope and belief at Old Trafford on Sunday, with or without Amorim, especially after Man United scored five goals in the Carabao Cup,’ he said.
‘There’ll be more hope going into the game this weekend than there was last week against West Ham and that could really energise the players on the pitch.
‘I was at St James’ for Chelsea’s trip in midweek, and it was a completely changed team from the league game between the two, and the side he puts out against Man United will be different again.
‘It’s a tough one to call and probably why I’ll go for a score draw. I fancy both teams to score because both teams can improve defensively.
‘The added detail of a new manager in the dugout at Old Trafford for the first in the Premier League, whether that’s Ruben or Ruud, means United can get something out of this game.’
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