Rashford off to Super Bowl as he steps up fitness battle
Marcus Rashford has been invited to this weekend’s Super Bowl as the Manchester United forward continues his recovery from a fractured back.
The England striker, who is confident of returning to action before the European Championship, will have a taste of one of the most highprofile sporting events.
Rashford has been ruled out for at least two months after suffering his injury against Wolverhampton Wanderers this month but believes he will be fit before the end of United’s season, giving him enough time to prepare for the intensity of England co-hosting this summer’s major tournament.
Gareth Southgate’s team will play their Group D matches at Wembley, which will also stage the semi-finals and final.
Southgate has been to the past two Super Bowls, the first being in 2018 in Minnesota while part of a coaching convention in which figures from across different sports exchanged ideas.
The England manager looked at
Road to recovery: Marcus Rashford hopes to be back in action before the end of the season
coaching techniques and went on to adopt an Nfl-style media day ahead of the last World Cup where all of his players spoke simultaneously to reporters to share their stories ahead of Russia.
“And it’s great to come to big occasions and see people performing under pressure,” Southgate told Sky Sports when he was a guest last year for the New England Patriots’ defeat of LA Rams in Atlanta.
Rashford will get the chance to watch this weekend’s showpiece between Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers.
While his visit is not formally to look at how American Football players cope with the biggest of occasions, Rashford will get a taste of pressures that come with competing for the top prize.
Rashford’s double stress fracture was suffered when he came off the bench to help United defeat Wolves in the FA Cup on Jan 15, Matt Doherty’s challenge inflicting the damage.
His time on the sidelines also gives him time to have a minor operation on his ankle.
He has since insisted: “I’ll be back before the season ends to hopefully help my team claim top four.”
Rashford’s absence has thrown into focus the decision to let Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez join Inter Milan last summer. There is no break clause in Sanchez’s loan deal, leaving United seeking shortterm replacement options.