Ruben Amorim admits Man Utd star 'he knows well' may be benched for Nottingham Forest game

Ruben Amorim has dropped a hint about his Manchester United team selection for Saturday’s home clash with Nottingham Forest.

And after a taxing midweek trip to Arsenal, it seems as though one hard-working midfielder may not be ready for another run-out from the start. During his press conference on Friday, Amorim suggested that Manuel Ugarte, who he worked with at Sporting, needs more time to get back to 100 per cent fitness despite his strong showing at the Emirates.

Speaking about the prospect of rotating the side, he said: “Bruno Fernandes, you feel against Arsenal he was a little bit tired but you know that he is going to recover very well. If you think about Manu – Manu Ugarte – I’ve know him so long, I know he needs a little bit more time [to recover].”

Amorim has alternated between starting and benching Ugarte in his four matches at the helm, with the Uruguayan playing the full 90 minutes against Bodo/Glimt and Arsenal, and making late cameos against Ipswich Town and Everton.

United splurged £50.5million on Ugarte in August, and after a shaky start, he is beginning to show fans why senior figures at Old Trafford were so keen to get their hands on him. With Amorim, they have a manager who knows how to bring the best out of the 23-year-old.

After Fernandes also showed signs of fatigue last time out, fellow midfielders Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo and Christian Eriksen may spy an opportunity to be put in from the start against Forest.

Amorim insists he is now familiar with his new players and would not hesitate to throw any of them in at the deep end during a congested festive fixture schedule.

“I trust in every one of them,” he continued. “What I’m understanding in training and games is how each position can be played better. What kind of situation is better for one guy or another. These things I need to be close to them, and see the games in the dugout, as you guys say, not just on TV. So I’m learning and we as a staff are learning really fast about what they’re able to do.”

Whichever team Amorim selects on Saturday, neither Jonny Evans nor Victor Lindelof will be involved, having both been ruled out by the manager. Luke Shaw is a longer-term absentee, while Lisandro Martinez and Mainoo will be back in contention after serving suspensions.