RASH ALPS HIMSELF

As team-mates struggle, United kid seizes chance against Swiss to ease Southgate’s striker dilemma

AT least one of England’s second string has stepped forward to seize his opportunity.

Marcus Rashford got the winner with his second goal in four days and it was exactly the sort of response Gareth Southgate was looking for.

Here is a player struggling for game time at his club – Manchester United – but is using the England shirt to show what he can do.

These are strange times for England when Southgate is struggling for players and, at times, it was all too evident at the King Power, as a few of his stars seemed unable to lift themselves for what should be a career highlight.

It felt a long way from the heady days of the summer’s World Cup, as this was more like a pre-season friendly lacking intensity and passion.

What was even more bizarre was that a few players – Ruben Loftus-Cheek, James Tarkowski and Jack Butland – looked horribly off the pace. England were second best in the first half, lifted themselves after half time, but maybe this is what you get when you make nine changes as Southgate did from Saturday’s defeat to Spain.

There were some exceptions, as Rashford has now made himself a genuine alternative to Raheem Sterling, and perhaps might just have moved ahead of the injured Manchester City forward.

Danny Rose was good down the left and Trent AlexanderArnold impressed down the right – but others struggled badly.

Loftus-Cheek can point to a lack of game time, Fabian Delph has yet to play a minute for Manchester City this season and Stoke’s Butland (below) looked a bag of nerves.

The Three Lions boss had reservations about picking the Championship keeper and little wonder judging by his jittery start.

First, Butland scuffed a clearance across the face of his own goal, and then his poor pass put Tarkowski under pressure and Xherdan Shaqiri hit the post when he really should have scored. It was hardly the start that England’s mix-andmatch line-up needed to calm the nerves and Southgate, minus his magic waistcoat, looked increasingly worried on the touchline. The manager saw his defence carved open time and again by the Swiss as they found big gaps, particularly between Tarkowski and Harry Maguire. Kyle Walker’s pace did bail out England’s defence but,

at times, he looked as if he was sulking having been a starter in the World Cup and now relegated to the second string.

Swiss full-back Ricardo Rodriguez caused problems down the left, while striker Mario Gavranovic was a constant menace.

The hosts looked disjointed, short on energy and ragged in too many other departments, which is hardly surprising when you consider there were so many changes.

But it was surprising that other players, so desperate for an opportunity, did not do enough to seize their chance. Loftus-Cheek (right) looked slow and cumbersome in midfield, when surely he should be fighting for his England future.

Even the captain on the night, Eric Dier, struggled to get to grips with the midfield.

Switzerland had gone to a back three to counteract England and Southgate did not seem able to react tactically – a concern, especially having been outsmarted by Spain.

Surprisingly, England did not make any half-time changes, but Southgate did tweak his tactics slightly, and it paid off after 54 minutes when Walker’s cross found Rashford racing in at the back post to fire home.

England sent on Harry Kane, John Stones and Jesse Lingard shortly after and they looked better for it. Stones made a heroic block to deny Shaqiri.

Leicester defender Ben Chilwell came on for his senior debut to a fantastic reception from his home fans.

In fact, the best thing about the night was that it showed the supporters have not lost heart. Even if a few players look as if they have.