Ruben Amorim drops major Manchester United hint at Wolves amid Marcus Rashford exile

Ruben Amorim again changed his Manchester United line-up for their visit to Wolves with Marcus Rashford still getting overlooked.

The Red Devils were looking to respond following their humiliating 3-0 home loss at the hands of Bournemouth. That was their third defeat in their last four Premier League games with Amorim looking to arrest the team's slide at Molineux. Rashford's omission has been headline news since he was left out of the Manchester derby earlier. Amorim has continued to leave out the forward, who is being linked with a January transfer window exit amid major questions over whether he'll play for his boyhood club again.

The new United boss went looking for a response and opted to make two changes to his team with Tyrel Malacia and Joshua Zirkzee both dropping to the bench. Leny Yoro and Rasmus Hojlund came into the starting XI.

Hojlund, as usual when he appears, led the line, supported by Amad Diallo and Bruno Fernandes. Yoro is slipped into a back three with Noussair Mazraoui shifting out to a wing-back role with United still getting used to the 3-4-3 formation Amorim has been quick to implement.

The former Sporting Lisbon boss is also continuing to chop and change his frontmen with Zirkzee and Hojlund both getting opportunities to lead the line. Amid Rashford's continued banishment, Amorim's continual changes in the No.9 position hints that the Portuguese isn't sold on either alternative - something that perhaps he will look to solve in January.

With the festive period bringing fixtures every couple of days Amorim admits there team changes are not necessarily a reflection of performances, but to ensure they don't pick up too many injuries.

He said: "In this moment, it’s not rotation to see the players and prepare the future, it’s simply to not have injuries. Matta [Matthijs de Ligt] is sick. Harry Maguire did 90 minutes against [Manchester] City and cannot play three days before because in three months he only did 90 minutes one time against City, so we have to rotate him during the week and, today, he is playing.

Image: Manchester United via Getty Imag) Manchester United via Getty Imag)

"Kobbie Mainoo played, he returned from injury, so I have to think if he’s ready to cope with both games so sometimes I have to play two games at the same moment. Rasmus [Hojlund] played two games, the third game today I think we needed fresh legs. So, we are trying to address everything."

United secured a late win at Wolves last season owing to a Kobbie Mainoo goal. Four days after that they host Newcastle before a weeks break before they head to league leaders Liverpool.

Man Utd XI: Onana; Martinez, Yoro, Maguire; Mazraoui, Ugarte, Mainoo, Dalot, Amad, Fernandes, Hojlund

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