It’s Rashford in ... but Sterling pays the price
UNITED striker Marcus Rashford could be handed his first World Cup start in England’s game against Panama on Sunday - at the expense of City’s Raheem Sterling.
The 20-year-old Rashford came on as a second-half substitute in the win against Tunisia - but is set to get the nod from the start in the second Group G game according to a line-up leaked in training.
Photos have emerged of Gareth Southgate’s assistant Steve Holland carrying a sheet of paper with a possible team for the clash written down.
It showed that the side are preparing to play in 3-5-2 formation against Panama, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek in midfield following Dele Alli’s slight thigh strain - a player whose name was spelt ‘Ali’ on the sheet in the medical section. The Tottenham man missed the session because of the injury he picked up against Tunisia.
But the most noteworthy aspect of the pictured piece of paper was Rashford, rather than Sterling, playing in the attacking two alongside captain Harry Kane.
Rashford’s inclusion would see Sterling drop to the bench.
Former United defender Gary Neville is one who thinks Sterling
should be given a run of games. “I think in terms of Marcus Rashford, there will be questions always about Raheem Sterling,” Neville said.
“I think it would be sensible to continue to persist with him because if you go with him in the first game, then I think you play him in the second match to give him the confidence that you believe in him.”
And Sterling’s City team-mate Kyle Walker says he has the ability to frighten any defender in the world.
“I’ve played behind Raz all season and it is an absolute joy,” Walker said. “There is nothing he can’t do on a football field.
“He is frightening to play against. I train with him every day, I know what he is like and what he does to defenders, any of them. Raheem is probably disappointed he didn’t score. I know he wants goals and he has added goals to his game this season, so that’s probably the only disappointment, but he had a smile on his face in the dressing room when we collected the three points because it is a team game.
“Raheem can’t go out there and win it on his own but he’ll be back. In any case, we are all in it together: we win, lose and draw together.”
Raheem is frightening to play against. I know what he does to defenders Kyle Walker on Raheem Sterling