Manchester United legend Nicky Butt has urged Ruben Amorim to sell five players, including former Chelsea star Mason Mount. There was widespread optimism among the United faithful when Amorim arrived at Old Trafford last month following Erik ten Hag’s sacking.

The unspoken rules of football dictate that there is a limit on the time a senior player can spend frozen out of the first team reckoning pending a change in behaviour. What starts as a measure to prompt change gradually calcifies into something more permanent and,

It might have felt odd at the time, given Manchester United were fresh from a decisive 4-0 win against Everton, but Ruben Amorim predicting the arrival of a “storm” now appears prophetic.