Marcus Rashford didn't get off the team bus as Manchester United arrived at Molineux on Boxing Day. Rashford was left out of the squad by Ruben Amorim for a fourth successive game and it's starting to look like the academy graduate has made his final appearance for the club.

"For me, personally, I think I'm ready for a new challenge and the next steps," said Rashford in an interview with journalist Henry Winter and January will offer him an escape route.

Those comments from Rashford were published 13 days ago and he continues to be frozen out, despite Amorim insisting there is a way back into his plans for the opinion-splitting forward.

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Amorim's actions are louder than words, though. Alejandro Garnacho has been welcomed back into the squad and Amorim praised how he responded in training, while Rashford has remained absent and conversations about an exit in the January window have grown louder.

United fans are tired of reading Rashford headlines and it's within the interest of everyone to find him a new club, whether that be on a permanent deal or a loan with an option to buy.

There is an undeniable sadness about how Rashford's time at Old Trafford looks to be ending. Rashford has been at United since he was a boy, he was moulded in the academy and broke into the first-team with star potential, which has seen him make 426 appearances.

Rashford was last seen on a pitch against Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League and he was hooked in the second half of that game. If that transpires to be his last appearance, there will be no farewell to supporters and that's a shame considering the many years he's spent at the club.

Some who are desperate to see Rashford leave will argue he's brought an unsatisfactory ending on himself and there is certainly merit in that suggestion, but that doesn't mean it won't be sad to see someone who has given so much - albeit promised even more - take a back door exit.

The January transfer window opens on Wednesday and United play their final game of 2024 against Newcastle on Monday. Rashford being left out of the squad to face Wolves wasn't a huge story, although missing out against the Magpies would surely be the final nail in his coffin.

Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte are unavailable to face Newcastle due to suspension, while Mason Mount, Luke Shaw and Victor Lindelof are recovering from injuries, which means there will be an extra two spaces in the squad that need to be filled for the visit of Newcastle.

Amorim named Toby Collyer on the bench against Wolves. If he names another two youngsters in the squad, or an extra player from the academy and third goalkeeper Tom Heaton, against Newcastle and shuns Rashford, that will be an indicator his time at the club is up.

If it hasn't happened already, naming youngsters or an extra goalkeeper in the squad over Rashford would show the true extent of the gripe Amorim has with the frozen out forward.

The truth is that feels more likely to happen than Rashford being named in the squad on Monday night, but football has a tendency to shock and there may be another twist to come.

It will be fascinating to see which United players arrive a few hours before kick-off. Rashford might be involved.