Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed that Marcus Rashford could be back in action before the end of the Premier League season. The Red Devils boss added that the latest scan on the striker’s back showed that he is set to recover in time for the end of United’s season.
Solskjaer had earlier said that Rashford might not play again for the Red Devils this season, adding that the striker is also a major doubt for the European Championship in the summer. The news will come as a huge relief to England manager Gareth Southgate who has also lost captain Harry Kane to a hamstring injury.
Rashford suffered a double stress of the back during United’s FA Cup win against Wolves in January and the England striker is set to be out for at least six weeks. Rashford, himself, claimed recently he would be back before the end of the season, as he was quick to alleviate concerns that his season was over.
The Red Devils struggled for goals after the striker was ruled out for at least six weeks before United signed former Watford striker Odion Ighalo on loan from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua until the end of the season.
Ighalo becomes United’s second January signing after the club signed Bruno Fernandes on Thursday for an initial fee of around £46.6m from Sporting Lisbon, with potential add-ons taking the overall deal to £68m.
However, speaking to reporters ahead of his side’s clash with Everton on Sunday, Solskjaer admitted that after fresh scans of Rashford’s double stress fracture, Rashford could feature for United if they reach the FA Cup and Europa League finals.
He added that the club will not rush him back but will allow the 23-year-old get fit and stronger. The United boss noted that Rashford may be available for England’s friendlies with Austria on June 2 and Romania on June 7 before the start of Euro 2020.
“The scan came back quite positive but we will give him the time he needs. He’s desperate to come back, of course, but he won’t until he’s fully ready” says Solskjaer.
“It’ll be another couple of months before we see him, we can’t rush it. But when Marcus is fit he will be stronger for it and when he comes back it’s going to be a big boost for us.
“He wants to be there when the business end comes so he wants the boys to do well so he can play in the Europa League and the FA Cup Final if we get through, and we also have the Premier League.”
United welcome their record goalscorer and former captain Wayne Rooney and his new team, Derby County to Old Trafford in the FA Cup fifth round on Thursday and will also play Austrian side LASK in the last 16 of the Europa League.
