The BROKEN 48-year tradition that shows Man Utd are in trouble

Suraj Radia

• 7 Nov 2024 20:00 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester United’s decline this season has led to a trend being broken for the first time in nearly 50 years, indicating the desperate need for quality and fitness at Old Trafford.

United sit 13th after their worst ever start to a Premier League season, which led to Erik ten Hag being sacked last month and Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim set to arrive as a replacement after the upcoming international break.

The international period will come as a welcome refresh for United, with a number of stars out with injury, while some players will also be hoping for a fresh start under Amorim after a poor run of form.

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The combination of poor form and injuries saw England’s squad for the upcoming Nations League games announced this week containing no United players for the first time since 1976.

Players such as Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire would likely have been included had they been fit, while Luke Shaw would also have been considered at left-back

However, the situation has shown the drop in stature of Marcus Rashford after his continued downturn in form, with Mason Mount also a forgotten man after being plagued with numerous injuries in the past year.

Rashford and Mount represent decline in Man Utd England reputation

United had always been associated with the England squad in some way but Mount remains the club’s only English signing since the 2021 arrival of Jadon Sancho.

The drop in the number of English players for United has also coincided with the club’s decline in form, leading to players like Mount and Rashford not being considered even when fit.

Although Mainoo, Shaw and Maguire are still England regulars when fit, the trio have been hit with injuries this season and United’s constant battle with fitness is something Amorim will surely be driven to address upon his arrival.

United are also understood to be considering a renewed approach for Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, having failed to sign him during the summer, while young talent such as Sunderland’s Chris Rigg have been targeted in the hopes of adding more of an English core to the long-term structure of the team.

While United will always have English talent due to their philosophy of blooding in academy youngsters, the failure of any players to make Lee Carsley’s England squad has shown just how far the club have fallen in recent years.

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Marcus Rashford

F (CL), M (L)

Man Utd

Marcus Rashford

F (CL), M (L)

Man Utd

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Rashford and Mount in particular will need to take their continued absence from England duty as a sign to work on their form and consistency or risk having a premature end to their international careers.