I’VE GOT SO MUCH MORE TO OFFER LIONS
says teenage ace MARCUS RASHFORD
YOUNG gun Marcus Rashford has assured England fans: “You ain’t seen nothing yet!” The 19-year-old Manchester United star says he wants to be an international man of mystery. That’s because he reckons those already marvelling at his skills don’t realise he has loads more tricks in the box. The striker’s emergence has been as rapid as it has been spectacular. Yet Rashford said: “You have only seen me play for one year and there’s still a lot of things that you just don’t know about me.” The United hitman was responding to being quizzed about his recently revealed freekick prowess. He netted the winner in the Europa League semifinal first-leg tie against Celta Vigo with a 20-yard dead-ball stunner. He said: “There’s things I still have to learn about myself as well. “This is all just the start and dead-ball situations are something that I like to practise. “All I can do is keep practising, keep practising, keep practising, to score more and create more.” Rashford certainly loves to put the extra hours in, regularly staying behind after training at Carrington to hone his skills, just like free-kick specialist David Beckham did before him. And he’s not the least bit surprised he managed to step up to the plate after United lost superstar striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the business end of their successful Europa League campaign.
“I didn’t learn much about myself, to be honest, because I knew how I would react to certain situations,” said the teenager.
“It’s more about what other people have learned about me.
“None of that mattered as long as we got through the season and got the trophy. You have to be ready for the moment.”
Pride
Rashford has always been ready, even when he was named in Roy Hodgson’s Euro 2016 squad just four months after making his club debut.
We’re talking about a talent who became the youngest player to score on his England debut when he fired home a sweet volley after three minutes against Australia.
Rashford said: “If you don’t believe in yourself, then you can’t expect other people to believe in you.”
Now he has his eyes on Scotland at Hampden Park on Saturday, knowing that he has the trust of both United chief Jose Mourinho and Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate.
Rashford has no hesitation in admitting he wants to be England’s main man in the middle, despite competition from Harry Kane, Jermain Defoe and Jamie Vardy, who yesterday withdrew from the squad because of injury.
He said: “My preference, of course, is to play down the middle, but playing down the left creates a different picture in your mind.
“So it’s all a process where if I keep playing it and keep learning from it, then hopefully everything will become clearer in matches.
“There are a lot of areas where I’ve got better.
“My all-round game has gone to another level and the way my brain thinks when I am in certain situations on the pitch is different to what it was a year ago.”
He’s having to bide his time on the international scene, but added: “There are times when you think you should be pushing and doing more, but in reality you should be waiting and being patient. That’s what it is about.
“If it’s not difficult, there’s a problem, because it means there’s not enough top players about.
“But there are top players and there’s good competition.
“You’re always improving when you come away with England.
“I am happy with my development. I hope it continues.”
Rashford’s United and England teammate Chris Smalling was full of praise for the Three Lions hitman.
The defender said: “The world is his oyster. He can be one of the best.
“He’s still very young and I’m looking forward to seeing how far he goes.
“You forget how old he is, how few games he’s played.
“He’s quick, he’s strong and his temperament is fantastic.
“He’s a kid who wants to play football, whether he’s in his room or in the changing-room, kicking balls, knocking things over. He’s a fantastic talent.”