Rashford is ready to make his mark from the bench against Tunisia
Marcus Rashford won’t worry if he’s only a substitute for England’s World Cup opener against Tunisia.
He knows he’ll be needed at some point.
A quick look back into history tells us that super subs and squad members have played a big part in some of England’s best World Cup campaigns.
Gary Lineker only started scoring goals in Mexico in 1986 when Peter Beardsley was brought in to partner him for the third group game with Poland.
At Italia ’ 90, David Platt came off the bench to score that dramatic volleyed winner in the last minute of extra- time against Belgium.
And in France 20 years ago, both Michael Owen and David Beckham began the tournament on the bench.
Owen scored as a sub against Romania, and was then in from the start for that wonder goal against Argentina.
Beckham came in to score that delightful free- kick against Colombia before he saw red following his clash with Argentina’s Diego Simeone.
So for Rashford, not making the first XI tomorrow night would not be the end of the world.
Not that the 20-year-old is any stranger to starting from the sidelines.
Of his 52 appearances for Manchester United last season, half of them were from the bench.
He admits that you can’t afford to spend the match moaning, but assessing how you can affect it if you do come on.
“I can make an impact from the bench,” he says. “You can never win a World Cup with just 11 players. The whole squad understands that.
“If you’re on the bench, it’s not a bad thing.
“You’re not going to sit there and sulk. You are analysing the game to see how you can make an impact if you come on.
“In the tournament, that is what we will need. It’s seven games to win a World Cup. It sounds very simple, but there are lots of things you have to pick up.
“A lot of us are going to be learning as we go along. We just need to embrace it.”
Rashford missed the first couple of days of training in Russia, after injuring his knee in a practice match at St George’s Park last Monday.
But he returned to the pitch on Friday, and will be in Gareth Southgate’s thoughts.
His outstanding goal and man-of-thematch performance in the 2- 0 friendly
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win over Costa Rica in Leeds was certainly a timely reminder of his qualities.
It was more like the Rashford who burst on to the scene two years ago, than the one stunted under Jose Mourinho.
The United man would love to be starting as England’s centre-forward, but that job goes to captain Harry Kane.
And Rashford insists that there is plenty for him to learn from the new skipper.
“Harry is a top trainer and his finishing really is top class,” he says.
“If I could take one thing from him it would be his finishing.
“You see his standards in the exercises we do. It’s not only that, it’s his mindset.
“It’s how he prepares himself before every training session and every game. He is preparing himself to score goals.
“If he’s on fire in the tournament, it can really put us in a good position.”
The World Cup will be Rashford’s second tournament, having been picked by Roy Hodgson for Euro 2016.
With two years more experience under his belt, he’s more confident things will be better for him and England.
“I wouldn’t say it was a whirlwind going to the Euros,” he adds. “I was aware it might happen and started mentally preparing.
“If you’re mentally prepared, you take it in your stride.
“That is the same thing we are now doing here.
“I’m more experienced and a lot more comfortable around the boys than I was. That’s no bad thing.
“Leading up to the Euros, it wasn’t as relaxed.
“There was a lot more tension and we all know what happened.
“This time, the lads are taking it all in their stride.”