Marcus Rashford in Man Utd squad for first time in five games as star returns from exile after saying he wanted to leave

MARCUS RASHFORD returned to the Manchester United squad to face Newcastle.

The forward missed the last four matchday squads before being allowed to return by manager Ruben Amorim.

He was first axed for the short trip to Manchester City, with United winning 2-1 after staging a late comeback.

Amorim explained his absence was due to tactical reasons, with Alejandro Garnacho also dropped for that match.

Garnacho was back the next match, a 4-3 defeat by Tottenham in the Carabao Cup, but Rashford was still absent.

The 27-year-old was then left out of back-to-back losses against Bournemouth and Wolves.

United struggled without Rashford and though they were beaten by Toon, Amorim decided not to use the Englishman off the bench.

The Red Devils were without suspended captain Bruno Fernandes, with another attacking player Mason Mount an injury absentee yet again.

Amorim explained it was his decision to exile Rashford as he warned his players about maintaining standards.

He said: "We try to evaluate everything training performance, game performances, engagement with team-mates, push their team-mates up.

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"Everything is on the line when we analyse and try to choose the players. It is my selection. Simple.

"I don’t want to send a message it is simply an evaluation and they know it.

"The players are really, really smart. Everybody understands my decision and I have to choose. It is simple selection.

"If I don't do that, I will lose myself and I will not lose myself. I know what I am doing."