Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
The ‘just amazing’ rise of Marcus Rashford
MARCUS RASHFORD has claimed his remarkable rise from youth team player to England international “doesn’t seem real”.
The 18-year-old striker was recently named in Roy Hodgson’s 23- man squad for the European Championships, having only broken into Manchester United’s first team in February.
Rashford went on to score eight goals in his next 18 club appearances and, following a call- up to Hodgson’s provisional squad, secured his place for Euro 2016 in France by finding the back of the net on his international debut.
Last Christmas, however, the teenager had more humble aspirations.
“Back then I was actually trying to work my way into the 21s side and, all of a sud- den, I appeared in the first team,” he told FATV. “(But) you have to be ready when your chance comes.
“To be honest, I wasn’t really thinking about the England set-up as much because obviously at United there was a lot of games coming thick and fast. All of my focus was on those games.
“At the end of the season you hear talk and stuff, but to be here now is just amazing.
“When I first went into the changing-room and saw all of the players’ names on the back of their shirts, it doesn’t seem real,” he added.”I remember going home after and speaking to my brother about it, and he agreed with me – he didn’’ t think it was real either. That’s what it’s like until you get used to it.”
Wayne Rooney, the United and England captain, has witnessed Rashford’s rise firsthand and, as a former teenage prodigy himself, offered his teammate some advice.
“I think the most important thing is to enjoy it because there’s not that pressure on you that maybe on the lads who have to consistently perform,” Rooney said. “You’ve got that freedom to go and play, to enjoy it and have no fear.
“I always think that, for young lads, it’s probably better to leave them and not fill them with advice... ‘you should do this, you should do that’.
“Just let them go and play because that’s what’s got them to the position they’re in today,” the striker added. – The Independent ● For coverage of last night’s opening Euro 2016 match, visit www.iol.co.za