Marcus Rashford injury: Manchester United striker may not play again this season
Marcus Rashford faces “another few months” on the sidelines, according to Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and whether the injured striker plays again this season is “touch and go”.
Rashford has missed United’s last six games with a back injury suffered after coming on as a substitute in a FA Cup third round replay against Wolves last month.
Solskjaer was initially hopeful that Rashford would recover quickly but later said the 22-year-old would be sidelined for at least six weeks.
Rashford insisted last month that he would play again before the end of United’s Premier League campaign, tweeting: ”I’ll be back before the season ends to hopefully help my team claim top four.”
But, speaking ahead of United’s Europa League last-32 clash with Club Brugge, Solskjaer said he is uncertain whether he will be able to count on the England international during the run-in.
“It’ll be touch and go,” Solskjaer said. ”It takes time. I’m not a doctor but I was hoping that he would recover quicker than it actually looks like he will. He’ll be out for another few months, definitely.
“We had a scan, it was maybe more severe than we expected. I’ve never had anatomy in school. I didn’t know it takes that time to recover, but when it’s healed he’ll be stronger for it.”
If Rashford were not to play for United before the end of the season, his involvement with England at this summer’s European Championship would be in serious doubt.
Gareth Southgate, the England manger, is already sweating on the fitness of Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane and can ill afford to go into the tournament with another injury worry in his front line.
But Solskjaer insisted that Rashford would not be rushed back, whether for club or for country. “If he’s not fit enough, he won’t go [to Euro 2020],” the United manager said.
Rashford has struggled with minor back issues throughout his career and was substituted during United’s 4-0 win over Norwich, days before the Wolves replay, as a precaution.
Solskjaer initially chose not to risk his top scorer for the cup replay but introduced him as a second-half substitute with the game goalless. United ultimately won but Rashford lasted just 17 minutes.
Southgate must name his 23-man squad for this summer’s Euros by 2 June, 10 days before the tournament’s opening game. England’s campaign starts against Croatia at Wembley on 14 June.
United, meanwhile, are no closer to having midfielder Paul Pogba available. Speculation surrounding Pogba’s future has intensified this week following a public fall-out between Solskjaer and his agent Mino Raiola.
Pogba remains sidelined with an ankle injury that has limited him to just eight appearances for United this season and Solskjaer still cannot put a precise time frame on his return.
“He’s not been part of team training yet so it’ll depend on when he feels ready to do that,” Solskjaer said of United’s record signing. “He’s not anywhere near that yet.”
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