Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)

THE MARC OF KANE

Solskjaer: Rashford can prove he’s as good as Harry

- BY DAVID MCDONNELL @Discomirro­r

OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER reckons Marcus Rashford can be in the same class as Harry Kane – ahead of their showdown tomorrow.

Manchester United caretaker boss Solskjaer takes his side to Wembley to face Tottenham, convinced Rashford can prove he is just as lethal in front of goal as England skipper Kane.

Rashford (right) has three goals in four Premier League appearance­s since the Norwegian took over from sacked former boss Jose Mourinho last month.

And Solskjaer believes the 21-year-old striker, who is producing his best now he is playing through the middle and leading United’s attack, has all the qualities to be one of the best strikers in the world.

“He can become a top, top striker,” said Solskjaer. “We can talk about Harry Kane and his class, and I’m sure Marcus can get there as well.

“He has got the potential to get up there.

“He’s got frightenin­g pace, he’s now become stronger and can hold the ball up for us. He’s a great link player and he’s been brought up here. He’s a very exciting player to work with.

“There were a couple of sessions here with the young kids – Tahith Chong and Angel Gomes, him and Jesse Lingard – they played together in a certain way.”

Tomorrow’s clash pits Solskjaer Spurs coach Mauricio Pochettino, the favourite to replace him as United’s permanent new boss in the summer.

Solskjaer has made no secret of his desire to land the United job himself, beyond his interim tenure this season, and was reluctant to heap too much praise on his chief rival for the Old Trafford job.

Asked what qualities had enabled Pochettino to do so well at Spurs, Solskajer said: “I can’t really comment because I’ve been sat on the outside too much.

“I’ve only met him once myself. He was a very nice man to speak to and we had a nice chat.

“He’s a probably a very good man-manager, but you’ve got to ask someone else.

“From the outside, he looks like that anyway.

“He’s got good players – it’s the same with me.

“It’s easier to play an attacking way and your way when you’ve got good players against and he’s got lots of them.” Solskjaer said he had not had any further dialogue with United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward over his position and whether he is in the frame for the permanent role.

“No, we’ve not had that conversati­on,” said Solskjaer. “You don’t plan five or six months ahead and then suddenly, after two weeks, change that.

“No, nothing’s changed. We just keep working every single day on improving the team here.

“I work with a fantastic coaching staff, I have to say. We’ll put a plan together on how we want to look the next few months.”

 ??  ??
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom