Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has admitted that sending on Rashford against Wolves was a decision that backfired and he is unsure the striker will recover in time for the match against league leaders Liverpool.
Rashford played for 16 minutes in the FA Cup tie against Wolves having been brought on at the 64th minute and was again helped off the pitch at the 80th minute.
The red devils travel to Liverpool on Sunday in the EPL and manager Solskjaer says the striker “couldn’t run”.
“He’ll be tested in the next few days – we have to see for Sunday,” added the Norwegian.
“I didn’t want to play him. I think he got a knock, a knee or something, in his back, but he’s been struggling for a little while.
“That’s why we’ve kept him away [from starting against Wolves], but we needed the win.”
He then agreed that the decision to bring him on had backfired: “He was involved in the goal, so that was a positive, but it backfired.
“He’s a quick healer and he’ll play through some pain, definitely, if he’s capable and it’s not a bad, bad injury, but we’ve seen that he’s struggled lately.
“But that’s been more when he’s been tired. He wasn’t on long enough to be tired so it might be something that just happened there and then.
“He’s been absolutely top this season so we’ll do anything and everything we can to get him fit for Sunday. If he’s not, then we’ll play without him.”
The England international has scored 22 goals for both club and country this season.
Manchester United will face either Watford or Tranmere in the next round of the FA Cup, have a semi final return leg against Manchester City whom they trail by 3-1, and are still in the race for Europa League trophy not to mention a surge for top four position.
Former Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher suggested that an injury to Rashford is not United’s interest and would be a big blow;
“The fact he has played 200 games already at such a young age, he is so important,” Fletcher said on BBC Radio 5 live.
“They are largely becoming reliant on him. Marcus Rashford carries a load in terms of driving team up the pitch, getting shots getting goals, getting assists.
“He has almost been like a one-man team.”
Keeping the freshness in the team is a big part of a manager’s job and they must rest players as at when due or risk a situation as this.
The Times chief football writer Henry Winter agrees with the foregoing argument;
“It is interesting listening to ex-professionals saying he is not quite running as freely as they would expect and is holding something back,” Winter said.
“I understand why Manchester United have to play him and I understand his mentality; he loves this club, plays for the shirt.
“He is is Manchester United’s most important player but at some stage we have to take a step back and say: Let’s not flog these players too much.
“It is not an England thing, this is about making sure he is ready for Manchester United over the next few years and not burning him out too often.”
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