Manchester United: Ruben Amorim told he cannot select 'token gesture' players | OneFootball

Portuguese head coach has come under fire for some of his team selections

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has been told that he cannot be selecting players as a “token gesture”.

United currently have a long-standing record dating back to October 1937 where an academy graduate has featured in every first-team matchday squad.

Amorim highlighted the importance of the statistic in the wake of the Red Devils’ 2-2 draw with Tottenham, where former midfielder Darren Fletcher’s son Jack was selected amongst the substitutes.

"It's really important," Amorim told TNT Sports of the record.

"We are in a moment where if we [cut] corners to have success right away, it's the wrong thing.

"There is something special in our club which has to be bullet proof. The way we behave, the way we feel [about] the club.

"We are not going to stop with academy players. It doesn't matter about the result. We will continue with these small details which are the foundations of our club.

"We have that record, we won't break that record. Jack is ready to help us.

"We will show that our academy is our future. The players in our academy must be ready to help us."

However, United’s new academy director Steven Torpey, hired from Brentford earlier this season, believes that young players should not be handed first-team appearances as a token gesture.

“We want players who are ready, can make an impact and make our first team better, and who our fans can be proud of.

“There is no greater feeling than one of your own stepping out.”

Next up, United take on Everton at Old Trafford on Monday, looking to move into the top four of the table.

Amorim’s seventh-placed side are five games unbeaten in the Premier League, and one point off Sunderland in fourth.