Southgate keeping eye on Henderson
GARETH Southgate is keen to look at Dean Henderson ahead of Euro 2020 as pressure mounts on England No1 Jordan Pickford.
The England manager has been loyal to the Everton keeper and it would seem unlikely he will make a change just three months before the finals.
But Southgate, who is in Amsterdam for the Nations League draw, went to Goodison Park on Sunday and checked on Pickford. The goalkeeper was criticised after he let in a low shot from Bruno Fernandes for Manchester United’s equaliser.
Henderson, 22, has starred on loan at Sheffield United from Manchester United and has twice been promoted to the England squad because of injuries.
This month’s friendlies with Italy and Denmark are a chance to give the England Under-21 keeper a debut.
ENGLAND will discover their Nations League opponents today.
They are in Pot 1 for the League A draw, which is being held in Amsterdam, with the finals taking place in June 2021.
They will play six games – facing each team home and away – between September and November 2020, which does away with meaningless friendlies.
The 55 European football associations are split into four leagues, with Wales, Scotland, Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in League B. England will be hoping to avoid a ‘Group of Death’ containing France, Denmark and Germany. LEAGUE A
POT 1
POT 2
POT 3
POT 4
LEAGUE C
POT 1
POT 2
POT 3
POT 4
MARCUS RASHFORD has set himself a 10-year target of winning the Champions League and World Cup.
Rashford is currently sidelined with a double stress fracture of the back, but is expected to return before the end of the season and be fit for Euro 2020.
The Manchester United and England striker, 22, has already won the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League, but has his sights set on claiming the bigger prizes.
United have recovered from their worst league start for 30 years and are firmly in the hunt to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Rashford feels Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are moving in the right direction and are on course to recapture the glory days they enjoyed under legendary former boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
Asked to outline his ambitions for the next decade, Rashford replied:
“To win the World Cup and, for United, to win the Champions League.
“We need to start showing signs that we can be the United of old.
“It has been difficult, but it’s a period of transition.
As long as we stay focused,
I don’t see why we can’t turn things around.”
Rashford reached a career-best tally of 19 goals this season before succumbing to injury on January 15 in a 1-0 win against Wolves. He already has 64 goals from 201 United appearances, but said Wayne Rooney’s all-time club record of 253 is not in his thoughts at this stage of his career.
“I don’t pay too much attention to that,” said Rashford. “If you’re playing your best football, then whatever happens, happens. If I was to get that record but we go into the next decade with no trophies, that’s not going to be the greatest feeling for me. If I don’t get the record but we get loads of trophies and something to look back on, that’s the most important thing.”
But Rashford does want to secure legendary status at United like Rooney and others such as David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes before him. “That’s always the aim,” he said. “You grow up around so many people who have that United legend status that it becomes part of your dream.” Rashford is on course to be fit for Euro 2020 this summer and claimed Gareth Southgate’s squad should be among the favourites, after reaching the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 and because they have home advantage.
“We should definitely win a trophy – at least one,” said Rashford. “If we don’t, it will be disappointing for me, because I believe in the manager and the players. It feels like the right time. We’ll give it our best shot at the Euros. If we’re playing our best football, I don’t see why we can’t win it.”
To read the full interview with Marcus Rashford, buy the new issue of FourFourTwo magazine – in the shops on Thursday.