RED DEVILS RUNNING OUT OF LOCAL BOYS MADE GOOD

Home-grown stars long part of club's identity... but Rashford’s looming exit highlights empty pathway

- By ALEX JAMES

IT feels a long time ago that the Ruben Amorim era at Manchester United began with a bang at Portman Road.

Barely two minutes in and Marcus Rashford had scored for the Reds at Ipswich and prompted plenty to wonder whether he might prove the striker beneficiary in the central role in Amorim's set-up.

Within a matter of months, Rashford was on loan at Aston Villa and he has no future at United. The decision to cast him aside is ultimately one for Amorim and it will likely still provoke debate while United continue to struggle in front of goal.

His expected departure would also see the end of a two-decade association for Rashford at United, having first joined the club aged seven.

The Reds have almost always had young English talent in their side and more often than not those players are local lads who have come through the ranks at Old Trafford.