Here is an intriguing Marcus Rashford fact: the Manchester United forward’s 30-minute cameo in the 4-0 win against Malta on Friday night was a first appearance in an England qualifier since scoring against Kosovo in November 2019.
Covid postponing Euro 2020 for a year and a loss of form are factors but there is, too, a track record of pulling out of squads for various issues. He drew suspicion when flying to New York in March, having withdrawn because of injury before Gareth Southgate’s side defeated Italy 2-1 in Naples.
England’s Euro 2024 qualifier on Monday, against North Macedonia, at Rashford’s adored Old Trafford is one international he will not wish to miss and Southgate offers an interesting take when asked if it was important the player showed for this camp when nursing a hip problem.
“For all the players,” the manager says. “There was a possibility with the length of season that they’ve had that we could have a lot of pull-outs but the only players that we’ve lost are Lewis [Dunk] and Jude [Bellingham] who spent half the camp with us anyway. That’s a good sign.
“We’ve talked to the players about commitment being an important factor over the next 18 months. The more players that are here, they can hear the messages from the games that we play. Marcus is pleased that he has been able to work with our medical team and make a lot of progress in this period of time. We were always hoping this would be the case.
“A lot of players pull out during the season, almost ahead of a camp when you’ve got two games and then you can be OK for the second game if everything aligns. Equally, during a season that’s more complex because clubs have games coming up and the dynamic is a little bit different.”
Those who like to read between the lines may locate a message here to a footballer whose previous 10 appearances in an England jersey before Friday had been at a World Cup or European Championship. Bellingham joining, despite knowing a knee injury would rule him out, prompted a question regarding if the midfielder had set an example. The manager’s answer was, again, to the point.
“Yes, well he wouldn’t be the first who has done that, others have,” Southgate said.
“In fact, Marcus did it leading into the Euros [in March 2021] – there was a camp where he was just having treatment really. Part of being a team is the rest of your teammates recognising you are in on this. Just by spending time with them, you get better relationships and communication to create more of a feeling of togetherness. The spirit is a fundamental part of being a winning team.”
Southgate, too, shrugged off whether availability for previous camps affects his selection thinking. “Everybody asks: ‘Do you know your best team?’ But we never have everybody available so it is also [about] what is your best team at any given moment because form can dictate that, level of fitness can dictate that.
“You always have an idea of where you would like to go if everybody is available and everybody is playing well. We’re fortunate that we have got some depth so that people have to keep delivering and have to keep producing because the best team in the last camp might not be the best team in the next one.”
Rashford is fresh from scoring 30 times for United and for England his record shows 13 goals in 22 starts and two in 30 when a replacement. “I hadn’t picked up on that to be fair,” Southgate said. “You’d have to look back at what the rhythm of those games were, the stage when he came in. He’s a good player as a sub, his mentality is always good, but nobody wants to be seen as a good sub, you want to start the games and he would be no different in that for sure.”
But Southgate was not as convinced when answering if Rashford could be Harry Kane’s replacement as the England No 9. “At the moment I still think he’s better from the left than as a nine but he’s definitely made progress as a nine this year and had a bigger impact [so] that’s possible. But, of course, we have Callum [Wilson], Ollie Watkins has had a good season, and Ivan Toney will be back as well. There are other players in the frame for that nine shirt.
“I know him [Rashford] as well as anybody is going to know him. He’s not always easy to read. He does love playing for England, he’s very proud to play for England and I’m sure an England game at Old Trafford will be a special moment for him.”
