Rashford’s big chance to land semi-final spot
tonight’s trip to Bournemouth after Sunday’s shock 1-0 home defeat by bottom club West Brom.
Rashford is set to be one of the players recalled, with the promise from Mourinho that if they play well at the Vitality Stadium it will book their place for the Wembley clash with Tottenham on Saturday.
After his double against Liverpool, Rashford kept his place for the Champions League last-16 second-leg exit against Sevilla but has been benched for the past four games.
Mourinho has refused to bow to the clamour from fans and pundits to include Rashford from the start more often. He does think highly of Rashford’s quality and character, however, and sees him as an important part of United’s future while constantly pointing out the player has made more appearances for him than any other since he took over in the summer of 2016.
Mourinho has also explained that because Rashford made such an explosive impact when he broke into the first team during the tail-end of Louis van Gaal’s time in charge, then gatecrashed England’s Euro 2016 squad, it tended to obscure the fact he is still young, learning the game and needed to be nurtured rather than over-used. That is why, says Mourinho, his number of starts, 52, is almost equalled by the 46 times he has been used as a substitute. England manager Gareth Southgate, who has spoken to Mourinho about Rashford, will be delighted if he gets more minutes and ends the season with a flourish ahead of the World Cup. After the high of the comeback in the Manchester derby, Mourinho was livid at the flop against West Brom, especially as it has jeopardised United’s hopes of finishing second. “We lost three points that could have given us great stability for the second position,” he said. “And we still have the fourth position to fight for because Chelsea won at the weekend and we lost.” UNITED will play Liverpool, Real Madrid and AC Milan as part of a five-game pre-season tour in the USA. They will also play Mexican side Club America and MLS side San Jose Earthquakes.