Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford’s England World Cup spot in doubt with Gareth Southgate concerned over lack of playing time
Southgate has gone on the record stating he will only use players performing at club level, something Rashford has not done in 2018
ENGLAND manager Gareth Southgate is becoming concerned with Marcus Rashford’s lack of game time this season, according to reports.
The 20-year-old has not started a league game since the Boxing Day draw with Burnley at Old Trafford.
The striker has played just 52 out of a possible 630 minutes in Premier League this year.
Concerns from Southgate are timely – it is two years today the youngster burst on to the scene and scored on his Premier League debut in the 3-2 win against Arsenal at Old Trafford.
Since then Rashford has gone on to hit 29 goals for United while gaining 15 England caps and forced his way into Roy Hodgson’s Euro 2016 squad.
United boss Jose Mourinho has used the forward in 37 of his side’s 42 games this season.
However, an increasing number of those appearances have been cameos from the bench.
RED MIST Jose Mourinho ‘angry’ at Manchester United dragging feet over Anthony Martial and Marcos Rojo’s new contracts
With the formation used by Mourinho, Rashord has fallen down the pecking order since the arrival of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal.
Gary Cahill, Joe Hart and Adam Lallana have also given Southgate a headache with their lack of playing time with the World Cup starting in four months.
The Three Lions boss has gone on the record and stated he would only pick players performing at club level, but that policy will be tough to enforce ahead of next month’s friendlies with Holland and Italy.