THE WORLD CUP
IT WAS in this round of the Europa League when Marcus Rashford enjoyed his breakthrough.
Rashford made his Manchester United debut against FC Midtjylland in February 2016, after being promoted to the starting line-up because of an injury to Anthony Martial in the warm-up.
The forward was only 18, but scored twice to help United go through and, having seized his opportunity, he made such an impression for the rest of the season that he forced his way into England’s Euro 2016 squad.
Fast-forward two years later and Rashford (top) has gone from being England’s most exciting teenage prospect to a 20-year-old struggling to get games.
He has not started a Premier League game since Boxing Day and, having started United’s last two FA Cup ties, may hope to get a run-out against Huddersfield tomorrow.
Whether the odd chance in the FA Cup will be enough to maintain his progress is one thing. But, even more worrying is that, if he is not starting games regularly, then he will be concerned about his England place.
It has become even more acute, after the arrival of Alexis Sanchez, that Rashford’s chances may be more limited.
He has major competition with Sanchez, Martial and the outstanding progress of Jesse Lingard (below).
All those worrying predictions – about Jose Mourinho not giving home-grown players a chance – seem to be coming true, as far as Rashford is concerned.
But the truth is that Mourinho has promoted Lingard, Scott McTominay is getting games and even the Special One recognises United’s proud history of always using youngsters.
Lingard has been superb and he has really stepped up. Rashford now has to respond to the new challenge of extra competition to make the World Cup squad.
England boss Gareth Southgate praised him at the last international get-together and insisted that Mourinho would pick him for the big games.
That looks less certain now, but it is Rashford who must force Mourinho into playing him, just as Lingard has done.
Southgate said last month that Sanchez’s arrival would impact upon Rashford, but the best players respond to competition.
That has to be the case now if Rashford is to have a major impact for England at the World Cup.