Southgate not worried by Rash’s lack of time

Gareth Southgate is not fretting about Marcus Rashford’s lack of game time at Manchester United, insisting Jose Mourinho “thinks the world” of the striker.

Rashford has managed just one start and a total of 122 minutes in the Premier League this season, a situation that will not improve in the short term due a three-game ban for butting Burnley’s Phil Bardsley.

In contrast, the 20-yearold found himself cast in the starring role for Southgate’s England over the past week, scoring both of the team’s goals against Spain and Switzerland and looking every inch an international-class forward.

Back at Old Trafford he will once again be vying for selection with the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez and Anthony Martial but Southgate takes a pragmatic view of his situation.

“It’s not my business to interfere with club managers,” said the Three Lions boss.

“They have a difficult job to do and they have big squads at the top six, with huge competition for places.

“Jose thinks the world of Marcus. He’s a huge admirer of him, but he has got his job to do. There is huge competition for places at his club so you can understand that.

“I understand the difficulties that club managers have. They have to try and win matches. They have to rotate their squads.

“We really wanted to make Marcus feel important. It was important especially to get him in the penalty box and remembering the areas he needs to be scoring goals from. His confidence will be boosted I’m sure, with two goals.”

Getting the ball in the back of the net for England has been the main problem for Raheem Sterling, who kept Rashford out of the starting team for most of the World Cup but could not convert bright performances into goals.