MANCHESTER UNITED
Manchester United star Marcus Rashford out of England squad due to injury
After picking up an injury in the recent win over Fulham, the 25-year-old will miss games against Italy and Ukraine.
In-form Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has been forced to withdraw from the England squad for the upcoming European Championship qualifiers. Rashford was substituted late on in the Red Devils’ FA Cup win against Fulham after picking up a knock.
Rashford’s absence will be a major miss for England coach Gareth Southgate. The 25-year-old scored his 30th goal of the season last week in the Europa League tie with Real Betis and has been one of the Premier League’s best performers this year.
He also starred for England at last year’s World Cup, scoring three times at the tournament to take his international tally to 15. The extent of Rashford’s injury is not yet known but Manchester United fans will be desperate to have him back with a series of crucial fixtures coming up.
Rashford joins Mount and Pope in the treatment room
Rashford is not the only name out of contention for the upcoming qualification fixtures against Italy and Ukraine. Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount and Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope have also had to withdraw due to injury.
Pope played a full 90 minutes in his side’s Friday night win over Nottingham Forest, but picked up an injury during the game. He has been replaced in the squad by Fraser Forster, who has deputised for Hugo Lloris at club side Tottenham Hotspur in recent weeks.
However Rashford will undoubtedly be the greatest miss for Southgate. The England boss has paid tribute to the forward’s transformation and revealed that he had spoken to Rashford about his performances.
“I went and saw him in the summer and had a long chat with him,” Southgate said last November. “You can see at his club there’s been happiness in his performances this year. That’s shown itself on the training ground all the time with us.”