Man United might have to sell player they don't want to because they can't sell one they do want to

Fourty-four days ago, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho turned up at Carrington for the footballing equivalent of detention. While their teammates were landing a memorable derby day win at the Etihad, Rashford and Garnacho were training on their own, having been banished from Ruben Amorim's squad. Since then, their fortunes have taken a very divergent path.

With the January transfer window entering its final week, Rashford remains out in the cold. He has been spotted just once, as an unused substitute against Newcastle United, and after Amorim's comments on Sunday night, the path bath to the first team for the 27-year-old looks more complicated than ever.

Rashford - aware that the avenues for a January move away are closing - is trying hard to mend bridges, at least publicly. He was at the Rangers game in midweek and posted a message praising his teammates for winning at Fulham on Sunday. A few minutes later, Amorim gave his most detailed - and cutting - answer so far when pressed on the absence of the academy graduate.

"It’s always the same reason. The reasons is the training, the way I see what a footballer should do. In training, in life and it’s every day, every detail. So if things don’t change, I will not change," said Amorim.

The head coach then said he would rather put 63-year-old goalkeeping coach Jorge Vital on the bench ahead of a player who doesn't "give the maximum every day." United are keen to frame that comment as a generic warning, but it came in response to a question about Rashford.

Amorim turns 40 on Monday, and his players were planning to get him to run through the 'tunnel' at training, slapping him on the head as he goes by. After those comments, it will be fascinating to see Rashford's