Solskjaer protects star 8/ 1

5.30PM, SKY SPORTS

OLE Gunnar Solskjaer may have to wrap Marcus Rashford in cotton wool to keep him going for the whole season.

The striker, 23, has played all bar 11 minutes of Manchester United’s league campaign this season as well as all five Champions League group matches.

But a shoulder injury may rule him out against West Ham tonight.

United manager Solskjaer said: “He’s getting that tiredness or soreness towards the end that stops him completing games.

“Of course you think about how you manage these players throughout the season anyway. Marcus will run through a brick wall for you, but we’ve just got fingers crossed it doesn’t get worse because it is still manageable now.”

Rashford missed seven League and five cup games – both domestic and in Europe – from January to March last season after suffering a double stress fracture in his lower back.

And while the striker undertook a partial training session yesterday morning, he received treatment afterwards.

Solskjaer said he hoped Rashford would travel to

London with the rest of the squad but seems unlikely to start given the important week United have ahead. Wild inconsistency in form has seen Solskjaer endure plenty of ‘ pivotal’ weeks in the job. But with the narrow defeat in the Champions League against Paris SaintGermain last Wednesday ensuring they go into the final group match needing a point against RB Leipzig on Tuesday to qualify, this one feels bigger than ever. Defeat in London could be tolerated even if it would

Manchester United to win 2- 1 end a run of eight wins on the road.

But if Solskjaer was to lose in the former East Germany and end up in the Europa League it would be a devastating blow, having worked so hard last season to get to the promised land of the Champions Lgue.

Solskjaer insists he can handle the pressure, saying: “You just have to withstand or enjoy whatever pressures that will give you, we’re working towards that with the players as well.

“And while you’ve got to look at the short- term results as well, my vision is long term and my discussions with the club have always been long term.

“We have shown some great consistency away from home lately, though, and hope we can continue that.” league