Despite a series of impressive displays since his Manchester United senior kick off in February earlier this year, young striker Marcus Rashford isn’t expected to be part of the first team line up for UEFA 2016.
Although the 18 year old was placed into the first team ranks due to series of injuries crippling the first team line-up, the forward has fast made a name for himself in several of his outings. Having scored seven goals out of the 13 matches he has played, four of which have been Premier League victories, it would seem fair to say that Rashford appears more than capable to take on a more intense challenge such as Euro 2016. What is more, it is only as recent as March that England manager Roy Hodgson commented on the possibility of the teenager going to France this year. However, that now appears to have changed.
The latest news circulating the sports community is that Hodgson has come forward and admitted that it is unlikely that Rashford will secure a final team place. Although the head coach praises the rising star for his quick progression through the United ranks, he feels that the soon to be 19 year old isn’t destined for a bright England career until after Euro 2016. This unexpected change of heart will undoubtedly have many sports domains, like online betting sites, brimming with observers and punters dismayed by this news. Afterall, Rashford has maintained his form over several matches, therefore seemingly proving he has what it takes to keep on progressing forward.
According to Hodgson, it is simply a matter of numbers when it comes to the Manchester born player. For the Euro 2016 squad, only 23 England team members can go to France, a rather limited number considering the amount of well known players that are expected to be in the lineup, such as Rooney. Therefore, if Marcus Rashford was to make the squad, manager Hodgson would unavoidably have to sacrifice someone else, and likely that would be a player with greater experience of such competitions. This assumption seems more than fair considering that Hodgson said that if the number was 30 instead of the restrictive 23, in all probability the young professional footballer would be going to France.
While the England team decision is clearly Roy Hodgson’s and his alone, fans have wondered with Louis van Gaal’s remarks that Rashford isn’t quite ready for the Man U first team, has in some way impacted on the decision. Nevertheless, while it seems that Rashford’s Euro 2016 dreams have been dashed, it appears that both Van Gaal and Hodgson see a very positive future for the player.