Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker share theory on Ruud van Nistelrooy and what Ruben Amorim will say

Alan Shearer believes Ruud van Nistelrooy is set to bid farewell to Manchester United.

The Dutchman returned to his former club as Erik ten Hag’s assistant coach in the summer, 18 years after leaving United as a player. Van Nistelrooy would have wanted the team to enjoy a better start to the season but helped restore the feel-good factor in his four-game spell as interim boss, signing off with a 3-0 win over Leicester City on Sunday.

Despite his brief success in the United dugout, it is currently unclear whether there will be a role for Van Nistelrooy under new manager Ruben Amorim. Offering his theory on United’s dilemma, Shearer thinks the former PSV Eindhoven boss should reignite his managerial career, which would also suit Amorim as he heads to Old Trafford.

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“He’s a big personality, you get the feeling he wants to be a number one,” Shearer said on the The Rest Is Football podcast. “He wants to be a manager. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he was to have a clean break and say, ‘I’ve done what was asked of me, thank you very much’, and Amorim came in and had a clean sweep. He's bringing all his own people in.

“Then Ruud can go and find himself a number one job somewhere. He’s done himself no harm at all. In fact, he’s done a great job. He’s done everything asked of him and more. He’s settled the ship, he’s picked up points as they had to do, he’s got the results as they had to do.

“Everyone knows how much he loves Man United and they love him. That’s not going to change. So it wouldn’t surprise me if he shook hands and said, ‘Thanks very much’.”

Shearer’s thoughts were echoed by Gary Lineker, who described the prospect of Amorim finding a space for Van Nistelrooy as potentially awkward. Lineker continued: "It also wouldn't surprise me if Ruben Amorim comes in and goes 'do you really want someone who's been part of the previous regime in there?'

"Especially a big personality like that, and where do you place him, is he first assistant? I think it might be a little bit awkward and I suspect like you Alan, he might go elsewhere." However, fellow pundit Micah Richards thought that the United hero should be kept around due to his bond with the players and fans.

That connection was on full display on Sunday, with the Old Trafford crowd continually serenading Van Nistelrooy, who approached the Stretford End at full-time. The 48-year-old admitted that moment gave closure to his interim reign and he expected to hear about his future shortly, having previously received clear communication from the United hierarchy.

"For me, it is important to have that clarity and I appreciated that and in the end the most important thing is this football club, and I'm here to support that in my role,” Van Nistelrooy explained.

"And, as I said, I want to continue doing that in the future and now also the communication was after the block of four games there will be communication towards you and your colleagues who are in an uncertain situation. And I expect to hear today or tomorrow."