Rashford off the leash for U21s
GARETH SOUTHGATE said Marcus Rashford’s development will not be harmed away from England’s senior ranks as the Under 21 head coach prepared to let him loose.
The Young lions will take a huge step towards qualifying for Euro 2017 should they beat Norway tonight and Rashford is aiming to keep up a sequence of scoring on his first appearance for a new manager, having done so for louis van Gaal, Roy Hodgson and Jose Mourinho.
Many felt the 18-year-old Manchester United striker would have been better deployed with Sam Allardyce’s senior squad in Slovakia. But it had been agreed that, barring injuries, Rashford would start this campaign with the Under 21s.
Southgate has briefed Allardyce on Rashford’s progress and feels he thrived while training at St George’s Park. ‘We had Harry kane, John Stones and luke Shaw for long periods,’ said Southgate. ‘The experience was good for them.
‘He hasn’t been able to stroll through it. it’s not as if we’re putting him with players who can’t play.’
No discussions have taken place yet — should England make it to Poland next June — over whether Southgate would be able to select Rashford but he will not consider Stones, Shaw, Raheem Sterling, Eric Dier or Dele Alli.
Southgate also explained why he chose not to select Rashford for the last qualifier against Switzerland in March, shortly after he emerged at United. ‘After talking to United we felt it was best to stay with the Under 20s,’ said Southgate. ‘Roy Hodgson then blew that out of the water (when selecting him for Euro 2016)!’ This is the first time Southgate has spoken publicly since he was installed as the bookies’ favourite to replace Hodgson only to make it clear privately that he did not want the job.
ENGLAND U21 (4-1-2-1-2): Gunn (Man City); Iorfa (Wolves), Chambers (Middlesbrough), Holding (Arsenal), Targett (Soton); Chalobah (Chelsea); Ward-Prowse (Soton), Baker (Vitesse Arnhem); Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea); Redmond (Soton), Rashford (Man Utd). TV: LIVE on BT Sport 1, 5.30pm (ko 5.45pm).