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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer defends treatment of Marcus Rashford... but striker could still miss rest of season

Marcus Rashford is facing months out with a double stress fracture in his back that could yet jeopardise his involvement in Euro 2020 - Manchester United
Marcus Rashford is facing months out with a double stress fracture in his back that could yet jeopardise his involvement in Euro 2020 - Manchester United

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has refused to rule out the prospect of Marcus Rashford missing the rest of the season, as the Manchester United manager called on his embattled side to “step up” and stop the loss of their top goalscorer from derailing their season.

The United manager - who conceded Rashford’s absence had heightened the need for reinforcements this month - also launched a staunch defence of his handling of the England striker’s fitness.

Rashford is facing months out with a double stress fracture in his back that could yet jeopardise his involvement in Euro 2020 with England this summer.

Solskjaer said Rashford would not require back surgery but that the player - who also has a piece of floating bone in his ankle that will require a small operation - would be given all the time he needed to make a full recovery.

Asked ahead of Wednesday night's game against Burnley if it were possible that Rashford could miss the remainder of the campaign and possibly the Euros, the United manager said: “Marcus is going to get as long as he needs to get fit. We are not going to risk him when he has had an injury.

“I have got the best medical staff in the country and I am sure when Marcus comes back he will be 100 per cent fit. He wants to get back as quickly and safely as possible and we’ll give him that time. When he feels ready and medically cleared, he’ll be back.”

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford lies in pain after picking up an injury. - Credit: PA
Marcus Rashford aggravated a persistent back issue in United's FA Cup victory over Wolves Credit: PA

United have been offered Moussa Dembele, the Lyon striker, and Edinson Cavani, of Paris St Germain striker, as they weigh up an emergency replacement this month, with Solskjaer admitting Rashford’s absence could be destabilising if they do not strengthen or others do not deliver.

Solskjaer claimed the performance in Sunday’s 2-0 defeat Liverpool at Anfield was evidence that United are taking “strides forward”, despite being 30 points adrift of the Premier League leaders, but admitted they are under pressure with Rashford, Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba all facing lengthy lay-offs.

When asked how he could stop Rashford's injury from derailing their season, Solskjaer said: “Good question - the million dollar question for us because Marcus has been fantastic. Step up. Someone’s got to step up. If we find something in the transfer market, yeah that might be one solution. But the best solution is the players stepping up, making sure they are ready and taking their chance because [Rashford’s injury] will create chances (for others).

“We know that Marcus is out for a few months. That will take its toll on the team because we are stretched. We are looking at different scenarios. If there are deals to be done, we will update you.”

Solskjaer was accused by Ian Wright, the former Arsenal striker, of putting his own interests before Rashford’s health after it emerged the striker had been complaining of back trouble for weeks.

But Solskjaer - who again denied on Tuesday that Rashford had been playing with a single stress fracture that then developed into a double stress fracture following a challenge by Matt Doherty in the FA Cup tie against Wolves last week - insisted appropriate precautions had been taken with his star player’s fitness.

“No, I never put myself before the team,” Solskjaer said when asked about Wright’s criticisms and whether he could have done more to protect Rashford.

“I always put the team and the club before anything else. He’s had minor discomfort in his back since the Burnley game (at Turf Moor on December 28). That’s [over three weeks] before this game. We’ve had scans, we’ve monitored him. There’s not been any injury there.

“He’s had complaints, yeah. I had a discussion and conversation with him the day or two days before [Wolves]. ‘FA Cup, I’m going to rest you’. He felt fine. He was very adamant that, if needed, he could at least do half an hour.

“He had no complaints training the day before the game, he did really well. He looked very free and when I asked him if he was OK to be on the bench - ‘No problem’. He wanted to come on.

“You know we monitor and we take risks - not take risks, we have to manage players every single day, loads of things that Ian Wright or anyone doesn’t know about.”

Rashford had been using a fracture healing machine called a Melmak on his back to try to alleviate the pain, which had become so acute he was forced to do the majority of a filmed interview with Ryan Giggs standing up in the days leading up to Wolves.

Asked why and for how long Rashford had needed to use the device, Solskjaer said: “I don’t think he’s used it a lot. I cannot micro-manage every single player.

“It’s probably something he’s initiated with the medical staff here as well - to make sure he is healing as quick as he has always done. He’s had issues before with his back and he’s always played with them. He’s never complained really.”