Gareth Southgate insists Marcus Rashford has the versatility to ensure he gets enough chances to keep developing at Manchester United.
England boss Southgate is confident Rashford, 19, won't be squeezed out at Old Trafford by Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
United re-signed the Swedish star on Thursday and when he regains full fitness after a serious knee injury the battle for places up front in Jose Mourinho's team will get even tougher.
Romelu Lukaku's £75m summer arrival has already provided Rashford with more competition and the Three Lions starlet has started both of United's league games this season in a wide left role.
Southgate said: “I think his performances at the beginning of the season from the left have been excellent.
“I was the game with West Ham and he was fabulous in that game and just needed the finishing touch.
“He walked off to a standing ovation you could see from the crowd there.
“Yes there is talk, is he a No.9 but more of his first team football has been as a No.11 and as a young player nailing down a definitive position is less important than being selected in the team and Jose clearly trusts him to play.”
Rashford was eligible for the summer's under-21 Euros but was left out of Aidy Boothroyd's Young Lions squad.
Southgate added: “I think he is stronger for the summer when he had a little bit more of a break than he might have done.
“He used that productively. I saw him posting from whatever gym around the world so for us he is still a really exciting player and he is only going to get stronger.
“Whether he is No.7, No.11, No.10, No.9 is less important. The opportunity to play and play in big matches like he did last year in the Europa League final and things like that is more important at this stage.”