Marcus Rashford isn't in the Manchester United squad for today's huge Premier League clash with fierce rivals Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
The 27-year-old has scored just four Premier League goals this season and has continued to look a shadow of his usual self.
United go up against City looking to avoid a third straight league defeat after previous losses against Nottingham Forest and Arsenal.
Though they returned to winning ways with a victory over Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League on Thursday night, improvement will be required for them to win the showdown today.
Marcus Rashford isn't in the Manchester United squad for today's huge Premier League clash with fierce rivals Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium
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Many had been expecting Rashford to play some part in today's fascinating encounter.
But the England international has been left out of the squad. It is currently unclear why he's not involved in the clash.
The twist comes just days after it was suggested that United were open to selling Rashford in the January transfer window amid his lack of consistency.
Just a few years ago, the winger was valued at around the £100million mark after dazzling under Erik ten Hag.
Ever since signing a new deal with United in the summer of 2023, however, his form has dropped off a cliff.
The fallen giants know they can't afford to be sentimental as they plot a way back to the top, having failed to win the Premier League title since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013.
And Rashford could now be sold for as little as £40m.
Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain have emerged as potential suitors, having been interested in signing the United star in the past.
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But whether they'd make a move in the New Year remains to be seen.
Speaking ahead of United's clash with City, meanwhile, Ruben Amorim insisted his own side's problems were worse than their rivals'.
City will go into the match having lost seven of their last 10 matches across all competitions.
Yet Amorim feels he has it far tougher than Pep Guardiola, his managerial counterpart.
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Marcus Rashford has struggled for Man Utd this season as they prepare to lock horns with fierce rivals Man City
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"They are so good at what they do, that they can change this momentum any time," the 39-year-old told Sky Sports.
"They are a very strong team with a lot of years working together. They won a lot but also lost a lot.
"We have a bigger problem because we are working on simple things but we want to win like Manchester City.
"It's a game where both teams aren't living the greatest moment of the season but it's always a derby and we want to win it."
Marcus Rashford is fighting to save his Man Utd career under Ruben Amorim as they prepare for battle with Man City
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Amorim's Sporting Lisbon side beat City 4-1 before he moved to United.
But the Portuguese is adamant nothing can be taken from that game into this one.
"We can't use so much from that [Sporting] game but it helped us to understand the game and feel the game really close," he continued.
"We have so much to do, not just in the game. But we are looking at the way we will play. I'm excited to see the behaviour of our players, in this kind of game - to learn a lot about our players."
