Wayne Rooney cannot believe Ruben Amorim keeps ignoring Man Utd player with just 41 minutes this season

Ruben Amorim is still struggling to get Manchester United firing.

A 3-0 defeat in the Manchester derby on Sunday left the Red Devils 14th in the Premier League, with just one win in four outings so far.

Wayne Rooney sounded quite despondent when discussing the result for BBC Sport – and feels Ruben Amorim has to be starting Harry Maguire if Manchester United are to improve.

Wayne Rooney calls on Ruben Amorim to start Harry Maguire

The England international has only played 41 minutes of Premier League football so far this season across three substitute appearances.

Amorim preferred to select Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Luke Shaw ahead of Maguire at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, a decision Rooney has now questioned.

The man with 559 appearances for Manchester United said: “I was hoping he went up front when he came on but unfortunately he didn’t.

“Harry should be starting. I’d seen Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink talking about it, and saying how much England missed Harry Maguire at the Euros. How is he not playing (ahead of) the three defenders who are playing? There’s a lack of leadership.”

The £80m man made 19 Premier League starts last season, but the start of this campaign suggests Amorim no longer views the 32-year-old as a key member of his squad.

Lack of communication could cost Manchester United millions

If Amorim had no plans to start Maguire – who Gabriel Agbonlahor admires – the man born in Lisbon ought to have informed Sir Jim Ratcliffe ahead of the summer transfer window.

The Manchester United No.5 becomes a free agent at the end of the season, and will be paid £190,000-a-week until his contract officially expires on July 1st 2026.

Therefore, Manchester United could have looked to sell him over the summer and offload his significant salary, especially as the promising Ayden Heaven is available to Amorim as an option for defensive depth.

A conversation could well have taken place about Maguire, but at a first glance, it feels like those at Old Trafford are not all on the same page when it comes to the man born in Sheffield.

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