Marcus Rashford's departure for Aston Villa during the January transfer window brought and end to an unwanted saga for Ruben Amorim and Manchester United. After publicly declaring he was ready for a fresh challenge - away from Old Trafford - there was no coming back from that point.

The Portuguese head coach spoke repeatedly about standards needing to improve if United were to turn their season around. Now, he'll do that without the ongoing speculation surrounding Rashford's future after sealing a January loan switch to Villa Park, with the option to make that deal a permanent one.

Had you said that Rashford would move away from Old Trafford 18 months ago, you'd be shocked. The United Academy graduate has been a constant in the first-team under a number of managers, but he has struggled for consistency over the past 18 months.

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It was only in 2022/2023 that Rashford scored 30 goals in all competitions for the Reds but, since then, he's scored just 15 goals in his 67 appearances that have followed. The England international has not been at his best.

That, in part, could be down to Luke Shaw's absence from the United starting XI. The Reds' full-back has continued to struggle with injuries that have plagued his Old Trafford tenure, with the 2022/2023 campaign also one where he made his joint-most appearances in a Reds' shirt.

Coincidence? Perhaps. But Rashford himself has spoken about the relationship the pair had down that left-hand side of the pitch and it's something Amorim hasn't been able to call upon - and it's unlikely that he ever will.

Speaking to The Times ahead of England's Euro 2020 campaign, Rashford said: "It's something that we've had a lot of time to work on and grow into understanding each other's games. I feel we’re a threat on that side. That's what it's about; it's about trying to connect with your teammates.

"A lot of the things we do are simple, but they're effective so we have to keep trying to improve and getting into dangerous areas. I've always enjoyed playing with him. He's a great player and going into any tournament you can have connections like that all over the pitch."

Shaw's absence this season through injury has limited him to just three appearances in all competitions, having made just 15 in all competitions in 2023/2024. What was once a solid partnership for United became fragile, and inconsistent, both in terms of on the pitch and actual availability.

Amorim can't be blamed for looking at alternatives elsewhere. There's an argument to be had that Shaw still has a place in United's new system under the Portuguese.

A 3-4-3 with a wing-back could be ideal for the English defender, but it wasn't something that suited Rashford, at least not from what we saw.