Man Utd manager Ruben Amorim told 'fantastic player' was missing two major things under him, he's 'mature' talent

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim will now be without a player who has “unbelievable amounts of talent” and has been provided with a “change of scenery.”

That is according to Phil Jones, who has insisted that one Manchester United star must “rediscover his confidence” and “fall in love with football again.”

Ruben Amorim saw the additions of Patrick Dorgu from Serie A side Lecce and Ayden Heaven from Arsenal during the January transfer window.

But the 40-year-old United manager also saw his first-team squad further limited with different players leaving Old Trafford before the window shut on Monday.

Antony completed a loan move to La Liga club Real Betis, while Marcus Rashford made his high-profile exit from Old Trafford to Aston Villa on loan.

Tyrell Malacia became the latest United player to leave the Premier League club after PSV Eindhoven secured a loan deal for the Dutch left-back.

READ MORE: Marcus Rashford told he must say six-word message at Aston Villa he couldn’t do at Man Utd under Ruben Amorim

Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images

Jones talks Man Utd ace

The saga around Marcus Rashford’s Old Trafford future finally came to an end in February after Aston Villa agreed a deal with Manchester United.

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Villa will not pay a loan fee for Rashford and the Premier League club will cover a majority of the 27-year-old United star’s wages as part of their deal.

Rashford’s move to Villa Park could be made permanent at the end of the 2024-25 season, with United including an option for Villa to buy the player for £40m.

The England international had fallen out of favour under Ruben Amorim after the United manager dropped Rashford for the Manchester City match last December.

Rashford had been linked with the likes of Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan and Barcelona in recent weeks amid uncertainty around his United future.

Speaking on BBC Sport’s The Football News Show, Phil Jones said that his former United teammate needed a “bit of love and support” during his time at Old Trafford.

“If they really evaluate the situation, they will be disappointed with his performances and he’s not played a lot over the last 18 months, for one reason or another,” he said.

“But I think he’s a Manchester United boy, he knows the club inside out and loves playing for the club.

“He’s made that know and there’s a kid there who has unbelievable amounts of talent.

“I can only speak personally from when I played with him at United and England. I think he’s a fantastic player who needs a bit of love and support, and I think it’s best for both parties that he parts ways and has a change of scenery.

“When he came into the [United] squad and was away training with England for the first time, all the talk in the changing room was about what a player this kid was.

“He has so much potential, ability with the ball, running at speed, left foot and right, and he’s lost his confidence at the minute.”

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Jones backing Rashford at Villa

Rashford could make his debut for Villa on Sunday when Tottenham travel to Villa Park for their fourth-round FA Cup clash, with kick-off slated for 5:35pm UK time.

Jones has now claimed that Rashford must “rediscover his confidence” during his loan spell after the United star’s struggles at Old Trafford.

“I hope he can get that back,” he added.

“We’re always quick to criticise players who aren’t performing, but sometimes you don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes and who knows?

“But Marcus Rashford has to rediscover his confidence, his form and fall in love with football again.

“I just think there’s a kid there… Actually, he’s not a kid anymore, he’s a mature player who has a lot of experience behind him now, but he has to want it himself.

“It’s a new dressing room, a change of scenery, different messages, voices in the changing room and ideas from the manager.

“If he can get off the ground quick and score a few goals early on, I’m sure you’ll see the best of him.”

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