If it comes to the crunch...let Nacho go

WHEN United's football committee went through the squad last summer and assessed who could be sold to raise funds to reinvest, they alighted on only a handful of 'untouchables, those players who simply weren't for sale, no matter the offer.

- TYRONE MARSHALL

That group consisted of the young players around whom United hoped to build their next successful era: Kobbie Mainoo in midfield, Alejandro Garnacho on the wing, and Rasmus Hojlund at centre-forward. Six months later, the picture is a little different.

Mainoo is only now starting to force his way into Ruben Amorim's system.

While Hojlund continues to get minutes, he hasn't yet convinced Amorim that he is the right player to fill the role of No. 9 in his side. As for Garnacho, he can barely even get in the team.

The Argentine came off the bench to impact the game at Anfield, creating the equaliser for Amad, but that has been his most telling contribution for weeks. Garnacho hasn't started for the Reds since December 7, and he was axed from the squad for the derby win at the Etihad, along with Marcus Rashford.

While Garnacho has quickly returned to the fold, while Rashford