Rash call
Man Utd stars Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho need to win over Erik ten Hag quick to keep World Cup dream alive
MANCHESTER UNITED duo Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho must win over new manager Erik ten Hag quickly in order to keep their World Cup dreams alive.
That is the message from Gareth Southgate, who has left the pair out of his England squad again.
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And there is only one more international break before the national boss picks his group for Qatar.
Asked if the forwards still had a chance of forcing their way back in, Southgate said: “They do because I think there’s enough of a block of games at the beginning of next season that people can still play their way in.
“Of course it’s more difficult — you know, the closer we get, the more difficult it is.
“But they’ve got to start playing well with their club. Neither of them have really played at the end of the season.
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“England is a consequence of what you’re doing at your club and you’ve got to get your club bit right.
“Compared to others in those positions that we’ve picked, their level hasn’t been at the level of the others.”
Southgate admits a healthier United could mean a healthier England. Sancho, Rashford, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw were all on the pitch at the end of the Euro 2020 final last July but had disappointing seasons.
England’s head coach will gladly speak to Ten Hag or Steve McClaren — back at Old Trafford as part of the Dutchman’s staff — about the players’ problems.
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Southgate said: “We’re there if he wants to chat.
“I know Steve really well, I’m sure if Steve wants to reach out and talk about any of the players, we’re always happy to do that.
“But it’s not essential. The managers will see what they see. They will select on their own criteria — and ours is always a consequence of their decisions and how well players are playing.”
In the absence of Sancho and Rashford, Tammy Abraham has retained his place as one of the forwards in the 27-man squad.
Abraham’s scoring exploits in his first season at Roma have earned him the chance to show he can be the long-term back-up — or even replacement — for Harry Kane.
Southgate said: “We don’t just want a number two — we want the number one being pushed.
“We could play with Phil Foden or Raheem Sterling there. So that might be another way of doing it.
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“But we think Tammy’s goalscoring attributes probably set him apart — at the moment — from the rest.
“There is an opportunity and this is his chance to grab it.”
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