Rashford sent for Under-21 lessons

MARCUS RASHFORD is set to be ‘demoted’ to the England Under-21 team to gain international experience.

The 18-year-old Manchester United striker gatecrashed Roy Hodgson’s Euro 2016 squad after a stunning breakthrough at Old Trafford in the final three months of last season.

But his game time at United under Jose Mourinho has been limited this season following the arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and new England boss Sam Allarydce believes the youngster will benefit from playing in the Under-21s under Gareth Southgate.

“Rashford is not playing now so it makes it harder for me to select him, as exciting as he was last year and how he burst on the scene,” said Allardyce.

“At such a young age, do I say, ‘Go and play in the Under-21s. Get used to international football there, play regularly there and it will help you eventually, hopefully to break into the Manchester United team and then break into the England senior team’?”

Allardyce is well off for strikers with Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge all ahead of Rashford while he has not ruled out a recall for Jermain Defoe, who scored vital goals to help Allardyce keep Sunderland up last season.

Allardyce said: “It depends on the form and fitness of the others when I name the squad but I know Jermain would love to come – because he’s already told me!”