Rashford expected to return to lift United and target Euro 2020
Marcus Rashford is confident of returning to the Manchester United first team before the end of the season following positive results from a scan on his back injury last week.
And that news will also offer a major fillip to England manager Gareth Southgate, who now appears likely to have the striker at his disposal for this summer’s Euro 2020 Championships.
As recently as 10 days ago the prognosis was bleak for Rashford, out since injuring his back in an FA Cup replay victory over Wolves in mid-January.
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who takes United to Everton today, had been unable to predict when the 22-year-old would be available, sparking fears that Rashford would not play again this season or in the Euros.
“The scan came back quite positive but we will give him the time he needs,” said Solskjaer after his side defeated Brugge 5-0 on Thursday.
“He’s desperate to come back of course, but it’ll be another couple of months before we see him, probably. We can’t rush it. But when he is fit he will be stronger for it so when he comes back it’s going to be a big boost for us.
“He wants to be there when the business end comes.”
United’s success in cup competitions has now secured a Europa League last16 tie with Austrians LASK Linz and an FA Cup fifth-round visit to Derby County on Thursday.
The prospect of Rashford, the club’s leading scorer on 19 goals, returning in time for possible runs to the later stages of those competitions is one that could provide United with a late-season advantage. Solskjaer has already been impressed by the commitment shown by Rashford during his recuperation. “When it’s tactical meetings towards games, he’s not been involved but he’s at the training ground every day,” Solskjaer said.
“His life is Man United. He’s watching the academy boys, his nephew, he’s in and around the place, after training he goes and sees the under-18s. That’s the family feel we want in this club. To have Marcus, one of the main contributors this season on the pitch, also contribute off the pitch is important.”
The news on Rashford means the outlook is brighter for Solskjaer, with the signing of Bruno Fernandes, the return of Scott McTominay and Brazilian midfielder Fred finally finding some form, culminating in two late goals against Brugge.
The United manager quipped that he had wondered whether he would live long enough to see another goal from the 26-year-old, who was a United scorer for the first and, until Thursday, only time in a 1-1 draw with Wolves 17 months ago.
From £47million laughing stock to a key component in the United side who have slowly been gaining momentum under Solskjaer in recent weeks, it would be no surprise were Fred to be a pivotal figure at Goodison Park. Signed by Jose Mourinho, Fred became a symbol of United’s decline in the final months of the Portuguese manager’s reign and Solskjaer, who handed him just seven league starts after taking over in December, required some convincing of his worth.
But the Norwegian believes something as simple as the removal of the language barrier, and the addition of the Portuguese-speaking Englishman Martyn Pert to United’s coaching team, could be the biggest factors in the Brazilian’s return to form.
“He struggled a bit with the language last season, but with Martyn Pert coming in, he’s fluent in Portuguese, so it’s easier for him to communicate,” Solskjaer said. “Fred’s English is better. He’s got used to English football. You don’t have three or four touches. You have to play much more one- and twotouch, don’t get your studs on the ball, all those little habits Brazilian players have from a slower type of game.
“He’s a top, top human being. He’s always positive, he works hard and tries his best. He’s a tough lad. Mentally very strong.”
In this most unpredictable of races for a top-four finish, that target remains a realistic one for Solskjaer, especially if his side stretch their unbeaten run to eight games at Goodison. “We feel we’re in good form and Sunday is going to be a massive game for us because Everton, of course, want to be in the challenge as well,” he said.
“So it’s a big game, a big test of how far have we come. Brugge are the only team in the last seven games who have scored against us, so hopefully we can keep the clean sheets going.”