ERIK TEN HAG insists Marcus Rashford can be a star at the World Cup despite being in the international wilderness for 14 months.
Gareth Southgate names his England squad today for Nations League games in Italy a week tomorrow and at home to Germany three days later.
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Rashford’s recent resurgence under Manchester United boss Ten Hag put him in line for a recall for the first time since last summer’s Euros.
The 24-year-old’s recent winner against Liverpool and brace against Arsenal had Ten Hag purring about the forward’s ability.
And while a muscle injury now has him sidelined, Ten Hag says Southgate should still have faith in what he can produce in Qatar.
The Dutchman said: “That’s quite obvious and quite clear, yes.
“He played really good seasons in the past and I think in this season he has had a great comeback and showed his great potential and quality.
“He has a muscle injury but it’s not really bad and we expect him quite soon to be back in the team.”
Rashford’s last action in his 46th appearance for England saw him miss a penalty in the Euro finals shootout against Italy.
He fell out of favour with Southgate as his form slumped with the rest of the United team during last season’s awful campaign that saw the Red Devils finish with their lowest ever Premier League points total.
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Southgate has also been frustrated at the number of times Rashford pulled out of squads due to injury over the last two years.
He will need to put in a real run of form for the Red Devils before Southgate names his final World Cup party in the second week of November.
While Rashford was left at home for United’s Europa League game at Moldova’s FC Sheriff this evening, Jadon Sancho made the trip, with his place at this winter’s World Cup also hanging in the balance.
His last England cap, his 23rd, came in the World Cup qualifier against Andorra last October.
Sancho had a poor first season with United but, like Rashford, has had a resurgence over United’s four-game winning Prem run, scoring in the victory over Liverpool and the only goal of the game at Leicester.
Southgate will be sticking with Harry Maguire, despite him losing his first-team place for United, although he returns for this tie.
Maguire is likely to lead the team in their second Europa League group game, with the heat on to win having lost the first against Real Sociedad 1-0 at home last week.
Ten Hag said: “The pressure is always on us to win every game. It’s clear when you lose your first game in a group you have to win your second.”
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