Not so long ago, it was reported that Ruben Amorim has put Rasmus Hojlund on a trial until the end of the season because of his poor performances. The Dane has failed to make that number 9 spot his own after producing some really average (at best) displays throughout the campaign.
Many fans have been upset with how he's performed to a point where we wouldn't mind seeing Joshua Zirkzee start ahead of him. This is a 'striker' who's play style is more suited to a number 10.
The manager even left both on the bench for the 2-0 loss to Palace in our last Premier League outing with a lot of people saying that this was him telling the club that he needs strikers. Amorim did clarify that this change of Mainoo up top was more to do with rotation and going system for system with Palace but that wasn't fooling anyone.
This was before the January transfer window closed but as we know, all he got was a left wing-back and a centre-back, both young and inexperienced.
But what this omission from the team for the two strikers showed was that they need to improve or they will be gone and sent a message to the rest of the squad that the same will happen to them if they do not show a means of getting better.
Amorim hasn't been shy about his ruthless side since arriving at United as the Manchester derby was the prime example of how little fucks he could give.
To not include both Rashford and Garnacho in the squad let alone starting XI, sent shockwaves across the football world as to leave two big stars out of such an important game was telling.
What this did though, was something amazing.
Whenever a player is not playing, they feel like shit. Two things happen from this which is what we saw from those two that were left out of that win over City.
Garnacho was then used as a substitute for a couple of games thereafter so the fact that he made it back into the squad was something.
Those cameo appearances were pretty good and was met with a lot of praise from the fans for both the player and the manager. For the manger, because if a player - regardless of who he is - isn't giving their best, they should be left out.
For the player, because in being left out, he then got his head down, worked harder and proved to the manager why he should be picked. Garnacho has been a regular since the start of the year and has been one of our better players who probably needs to start more than he does if truth be told.
Being left out showed the player that the manager isn't playing any games and if I don't pull my weight, I will not play. Garnacho got a kick up his backside and now he's smiling on the field again.
The other good thing leaving players out of a matchday squad does is to show them go the other way and do the opposite of what Garnacho did.
Rashford obviously never displayed the right attitude in training after that derby and hasn't played for United since the 2-1 win at Viktoria Plzen on 12 December, 2 months ago.
Amorim was constantly asked about not playing MR10 and said that it was about how much the player wants it and that if he isn't showing the correct work rate in training and whenever he did play, he will not feature for this team.
The manager said this goes for everyone not just Rashford.
Things didn't improve and as we know, Rashford is now on loan at Villa until the end of the season.
So either you get an underperforming player to improve or you rid yourself of one that isn't good enough. People praise you for this as a manager and it's a win-win situation.
Amorim also kept his word that it isn't just Rashford who gets this treatment as Casemiro has been on the outskirts for quite a while. In the win over Leicester, the Brazilian was brought on for the last few moments which for any player, must be quite embarrassing let alone one of the quality and experience of Casemiro.
Yet he is hardly discussed.
This obviously means that he too isn't displaying any of what the manager wants and why he is now benched for every game.
However, this trial could be exactly what's needed in order to know who is suited for Amorim's system and can be part of the future with him.
Either we're going to get 'Rashford's' or 'Garnacho's' which as we've seen, is a good thing.
Hojlund and Zirkzee can show us whether they're good enough to lead the line; Bruno can show us whether he truly is the magnifico and leader or whether he's going to be this inconsistent player; Dalot has the opportunity to prove his worth because he has fallen more than any other in the last year; even Onana in goal should be on trial because we don't know whether he's going to play for United or the opposition during games.
Ultimately though, every player should be on trial but we know that there are some that should remain while we could do with getting rid of quite a few.
Who do you think should be on trial at United?
Background Image: Rasmus Hojlund and Ruben Amorim | Creator: Matt McNulty | Credit: Getty Images Copyright: 2024 Getty Images via Goal