Mourinho believes Rashford needs England Under-21s game time
>> MANCHESTER: Striker Marcus Rashford is better off in the England Under21 side than playing second or third fiddle to Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy for the England senior team, says his club manager Manchester United’s Jose Mourinho.
The 18-year-old — one of the rare successes under Mourinho’s predecessor Louis van Gaal, scoring eight times last term — played only a peripheral role in England’s disastrous Euro 2016 campaign making two tardy substitute appearances.
Mourinho, who has often been criticised for neglecting young talent and playing older players, said Rashford would develop better both at club and international level if he got several Under-21 games under his belt.
He was selected by Under-21 handler Gareth Southgate in his squad this week.
“I would prefer him to go to the Under-21s and play what Southgate decides, but I believe 90 or 80 minutes, a big part of matches, and contribute to his development,” said Mourinho.
Mourinho, whose side has begun brightly winning the Community Shield and travelled to Hull yesterday with two wins under their belt in the Premier League, denied he was repeating his old habits in playing veteran Zlatan Ibrahimovic and ignoring Rashford, who has made just one substitute appearance.
The irrepressible Swede, though, has been in flying form scoring four goals in three starts.
“Marcus is a young and talented player. We bought one striker [Ibrahimovic] — not two or three or four. If you don’t trust him or want him to play, you buy other strikers. That is not the case.
“Zlatan is playing and is showing why, and Marcus is our striker number two at the moment. For an 18-year-old boy, I think he is amazing.
“They can play together because they did it already. They played against Leicester [the Community Shield game, a 2-1 victory] as a two when Marcus came on.”
Meanwhile, Mourinho indicated to out-of-favour midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger on Friday that there will be no place for him at Old Trafford this season.
The Germany international has two years to run on a reported £190,000a-week contract, but has been frozen out by United’s new manager.
Schweinsteiger, 32, has declared he will not join another European club and Mourinho suggested that if he stays, he may not even play in the Europa League or the English Football League Cup.
Asked if Schweinsteiger might play this season, Mourinho said: “I think it’s very difficult to happen. I’m not saying it’s impossible. I’m saying it’s very difficult.
“I have Paul Pogba, Ander Herrera, Morgan Schneiderlin, Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick. That’s five players for two positions. It’s difficult that a chance will arise.”
Mourinho admitted he is surprised Schweinsteiger is willing to see out his deal.
“I cannot answer for him,” he said. “It’s his life. It’s his career. He has a contract with Manchester United and has decided to stay. That’s not a problem for us.”