Manchester United legend and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has suggested that things could be getting difficult behind the scenes after Ruben Amorim left Marcus Rashford out of a second straight matchday squad on Thursday.

United were knocked out of the EFL Cup in the quarter-final following a 4-3 defeat away to Tottenham and, for the second game running, Rashford was nowhere to be seen on the pitch or bench.

Amorim had initially left out both Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho from the squad to face Manchester City on Sunday – a game that United came from behind to win 2-1 – citing that he had to implement high standards within the club.

Though, while there was a recall for Garnacho on Thursday, there was no such olive branch for Rashford.

"Maybe it's been emotion over the last few months that has been trying to make me think this could all resolve itself and work itself out because I don't think academy players who've got great talent like Marcus Rashford should ever leave the club," said Neville.

"It's one of those things that you want to see players that have been there since they were eight stay there forever. But, in the last few days, it's got to a point whereby it may be the best for both parties for it to end, and maybe end quite quickly if it's going to go down this route.

"Who knows? It could resolve itself. Ruben Amorim is saying the right things, but I suspect behind the scenes now it's getting quite difficult."

Following the decision to drop him, Rashford then acknowledged that he was 'ready for a new challenge' during an interview with football writer Henry Winter, having been at the club all of his professional career.

The 27-year-old has scored seven goals in 24 appearances in all competitions for Manchester United this season, including the first league goal of Amorim's spell in charge against Ipswich last month.

"That's two times he's not been in the squad now. He's one of Manchester United's star players and has been for a number of years," Neville added.

"Actions speak louder than words. While Amorim's saying there's a future, he's also not having him in the squad, so things aren't going very well at all.

"It's sad because United had an unbelievable victory on Sunday and yet grab defeat from victory because the talking a few days after is all about this and not about actually the fact that Ruben Amorim's got a sensational win under his belt."