Marcus Rashford believes Gareth Southgate determined what was best for England as well as for the Manchester United striker when selecting him for the senior squad rather than allowing him to continue his development in the under-21s this summer.
Rashford, who scored 11 goals in 53 club games last season, registered a hat-trick on his only appearance for the under-21s, against Norway last September, and the coach, Aidy Boothroyd, had hoped to take him to the European Championship in Poland, which starts next week. However, Southgate opted to “protect” the striker after a hefty workload last term, with the 19-year-old seeking a ninth senior cap against Scotland on Saturday having earned his place in the squad on merit.
The Football Association has in the past been keen for players to gain tournament experience in their age-group teams before playing exclusively for the senior side, and Rashford is still eligible for the under-20s, who are excelling at the World Cup in South Korea. “He [Southgate] has had to think about what’s best for England and for me as a player,” Rashford said. “I’m happy to be with the seniors and to continue my development. It’s important to be on the same page.
“It’s something you look forward to, being selected for your country. You have the under-20s in South Korea doing well, and the under-21s going into a tournament. Whatever age group you’re called upon [by] it’s important you have a mindset where you’re going to achieve great things. To me it’s not being fast-tracked. There’s been a lot of games; England and United have dealt with it in a positive way. I feel comfortable with the position I’m in.”
Rashford is one of three strikers available to Southgate for the qualifier against Scotland and Tuesday’s friendly in France after Jamie Vardy withdrew because of a thigh injury suffered in training on Tuesday. The forward felt a twinge and has returned to Leicester City for treatment, with his departure described as precautionary. Harry Kane will start at Hampden Park and Jermain Defoe joins Rashford on the bench.
The United manager, José Mourinho, had made clear his preference was for Rashford to be retained by the seniors rather than drop back into the under‑21s. There was, however, no dialogue between Mourinho and Boothroyd, who had long since grown resigned to being without the 19-year-old at the finals. “I want all the best players but my job is also a development role,” said the coach. “In the end it never came down to José. It was about me talking to Gareth and listening to what he had to say because he’s the boss.
“If he thinks Marcus would be better suited to the senior team and had gone past the under-21s, then I can put my tuppence worth in – which I did – but in the end, for the best of everybody, Marcus went with the senior team. Since March he has been scoring goals regularly. He has become Manchester United’s No1 goalscorer, their key player in the magnificent season they’ve had. If he’d had a bit of a dip it would have suited the under-21s more but the fact that he has just kept on going means he comes into the senior team. I think once you’ve moved [up], you’ve moved.”
Rashford was utilised more regularly in a central role at United after Zlatan Ibrahimovic suffered a serious knee ligament injury in April and had no qualms about stepping into the void left by the Swede. “I knew how I would react,” he said. “It is more about what other people learnt about me. Going into that situation some people had different opinions of what would happen, but none of that matters.
“We got the trophy we needed [the Europa League]. If you don’t believe in yourself you can’t expect other people to believe in you, so I was confident going into the games. It is just another step that you take individually. Taking on the responsibility of being in that role is something you take pride in.”
United duo visit terror attack victims
Marcus Rashford’s decision to visit victims of the Manchester terror attack in hospital was motivated by a desire to show the city remains united.
The Manchester United striker, with his club-mate Jesse Lingard, made use of a day off from England duty on Monday to spend time at Manchester children’s hospital with youngsters hurt in the blast after the Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena just over two weeks ago, which left 22 people dead. A further 119 were injured. Rashford, who was raised in Wythenshawe, and Lingard attended Sunday’s benefit concert at the Old Trafford cricket ground.
“It was our spare time and this is something we wanted to do,” Rashford said. “We thought it was important. If you can make a difference, it’s important you do so. Going there and seeing the victims, helping them smile and having a laugh with them, creates a good feeling. Friends of friends of mine were affected. Manchester is a small place and it was more than likely that I was going to know someone who was a victim there.
“We are with the families as much as we can be and it’s important the families know that. That’s one of the reasons why we wanted to visit the hospitals. We are doing all we can to support the families and the victims of the attack. Things like the concert and going to the hospital shows the families and people around the city we are together and we have to fight it together.”