Rashford fits the bill for Southgate

MARCUS RASHFORD hopes to give Gareth Southgate a boost this week by declaring himself fit for England and could even team up with United team-mate Jesse Lingard — but the national team will still face an injury crisis for the March World Cup qualifiers against San Marino, Albania and Poland.

Patrick Bamford’s first England call-up looked to be in jeopardy last night after the Leeds striker limped off with an apparent ankle injury after 36 minutes in the 0-0 draw with Chelsea, with Southgate watching on at Elland Road. The England manager will name his squad on

Thursday and Bamford, with 13 goals this season, looked certain to make the squad for the first time but will have to wait 24 hours to see the extent of his injury.

England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford will have a scan tomorrow to check on the recurrence of a rib injury that saw him substituted after 43 minutes of Everton’s 2-1 loss against Burnley. And with strikers Tammy Abraham, Callum Wilson and Danny Ings also injured, Southgate will be hoping Rashford comes through this week and is fit to play United’s Europa League and FA Cup ties after he sustained a bruised ankle against Manchester City last Sunday. ‘Marcus wants to play for England and hopefully he will be fit,’ said United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

‘If he can get back and be fit enough to play for us before the international break, then I don’t see why he shouldn’t play for England. He is proud to represent England. I have spoken to Gareth and he will pick Marcus if he is fit. There is absolutely no problem.’