Rashford push for Euros can boost United
FROM a United point of view, Marcus Rashford getting just 15 minutes of football in the international break would have been beneficial.
The lack of game time will have kept him fresh ahead of a crucial run-in and – maybe – it will have fuelled him to make his point in the next couple of months.
Gareth Southgate’s use of Rashford in the friendlies against Brazil and Belgium was unusual. Earlier this season, when the forward was struggling for form, he played 96 minutes in the September internationals, 119 minutes in October and 67 in November. Now he is finding his best form again and England Bowen starting on the right, Foden chased both games, he was hardly playing on the left and Gordon once used. again coming on ahead of him.
Maybe there were mitigating factors. Rashford’s reduced playing time Perhaps Southgate wanted to on international duty is even more have a look at the more inexperienced unusual in a week when Harry forward options in the squad. Kane didn’t play a minute
But Rashford has surely left the for his gave country.Southgate auditions final international camp before a 23-man squad for the European to Ollie Watkins Championship is named fearing for and Ivan Toney his place in that group. to be back-up
He was handed 15 minutes strikers but it’s a against Brazil on Saturday night, but role Rashford saw Anthony Gordon start ahead of has played in him and Jarrod Bowen come on the past and his before him. Against Belgium, Rashford was an unused substitute, with versatility is usually a bonus. He played on the right at times in the World Cup in Qatar.
In what has been a difficult season, his form for England has held up pretty well. He was excellent le against Scotland in September and scored against Italy in October.
Until November 26 he had as many goals for his country as his club this season.
But he’s now scored in all of his last la three Reds appearances and has six goals in 12 games for his club. That he was overlooked when England were chasing a result against Belgium was a surprise,
aCsawith Gordon getting another chance on the left and Foden playing the full game, while Watkins came off the bench for Toney.
Southgate explained his decision by saying he wanted to see other players, while he also mentioned Cole Palmer, who missed training and couldn’t feature in either game but remains a real contender for the 23-man squad.
“Well, I wanted to see Anthony Gordon. I think he’s been excellent for his club. And obviously Marcus got on in the first game,” the England manager said. “But I wanted to see Gordon again [against Belgium]. I thought Maddison coming on would have an impact and [Jarrod] Bowen has also had a really good camp. So there’s competition for places.
“I said when I named the squad there is competition for places in those wide areas. It’s a bit of a shame that Cole Palmer missed so much training that we weren’t able to put him into the [Belgium] game at the stage it was, having missed most of the week. We weren’t 100
In what has been a difficult season, his form for England has held up pretty well