Manchester United and Man City both face a degree of uncertainty around their star strikers ahead of the Premier League returning.
Both United and City face key games on the top flight resumption next weekend with Pep Guardiola's side taking on Liverpool and Erik ten Hag's men up against Newcastle United. And it remains to be seen whether respective talismen will be fit to feature.
Marcus Rashford, in sensational form since the World Cup break, withdrew from Gareth Southgate's England squad on Monday due to a knock picked up during the previous day's fiery FA Cup quarter-final victory over Fulham at Old Trafford. A day later, Man City striker Erling Haaland followed, dropping out of the Norway camp with a groin complaint.
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Both withdrawals were precautionary and it remains to be seen whether either will take to the field next weekend. Rashford has played 25 matches since domestic football returned in late December, featuring in every game having starting 21 and come off the bench in the other four for at least half an hour. He's only played 90 minutes once over the past month - against Southampton - with Erik ten Hag managing his minutes.
Over at the Etihad, Haaland has followed a similar path. He was an unused substitute in FA Cup third and fifth round ties against Chelsea and Bristol City, but Pep Guardiola named his talisman in the starting XI for all but one of their other 19 matches, including against Burnley last time out.
Haaland has enjoyed a staggering goal-laden season and with City fighting on three fronts, his fitness will be crucial for the run-in. It's the same story for Rashford at United with two more cup competitions up for grabs for the Reds. It means a lot rests on two players who rarely rest.
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