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Ruben Amorim will not ostracise Marcus Rashford from Manchester United following the striker's revelation that he is seeking a transfer. The Red Devils striker was notably left out of the matchday squad that beat rivals Manchester City on Sunday. Just a day later, the 27-year-old was sent home from Carrington due to a sickness bug. But 24 hours later he was back at his old primary school where he told Henry Winter he is 'ready for a new challenge' after two decades spent at Old Trafford. Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Thursday's Carabao Cup quarter-final clash at Tottenham, Amorim was asked for his view on Rashford's comments. talk SPORT’s Manchester correspondent Micky Gray asked whether he would allow Rashford to remain part of his dressing if the forward is seeking a January exit. Avoiding the question to the best of his abilities, Amorim said: “This is in the future. "My focus is to have all the players in the best that they can be to prepare for each game. “We are talking about if there is no if in this kind of club. It's just talk to them and let's focus on the game. ” Amorim was then pressed on Rashford's view that he needs a new challenge, to which he stated: "I think it’s right. "We have here a new challenge, it’s a tough one, for me it’s the biggest challenge in football because we are in a difficult situation and I already said this is one of the biggest clubs in the world. "This is a really new challenge and the biggest one. I really hope all my players are ready for this new challenge. " Amorim also admitted that he has not yet had the chance to speak with Rashford following his interview. He remarked: "No, not yet. It was yesterday, I gave the day off to the lads, so he’s our player and he’s ready for the next game. "I spoke with a lot of players individually and during training, what I want is to take the best stuff of Marcus Rashford as the player so I don’t talk about the future. "I just talk about the present, I want the best of each one of them and that is the key point for me, I just want to win and to help the team be better. " But Amorim did stress he would be happy to keep Rashford at the club, as he insisted 'the 'big talents' like the England international need to be kept at the Theatre of Dreams. He said: "We are better with Marcus Rashford, that is simple and we will try different things to push Marcus to the best levels he showed in the past. And that’s all. "Of course (I would be happy to keep him), because this kind of club needs big talent and he’s a big talent. "So he just needs to perform at the highest level and that is my focus. I just want to help Marcus. " Though Amorim ultimately remained tight-lipped as to whether Rashford, who was unwell earlier in the week, and fellow axed teammate Alejandro Garnacho would be ready for selection against Spurs. He said: "We have one more training, but it’s the same situation of all the other players. "If they train well then I have to make a choice. We will see at the end of training. " © 2024 talk SPORT Limited
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