Erik ten Hag is hopeful Marcus Rashford will be fit for Manchester United’s Premier League fixture at Newcastle on Sunday.
Rashford withdrew from England’s European Championship qualifying wins against Italy and Ukraine with a knock he sustained in United’s FA Cup quarter-final win over Fulham.
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“I’ve good hope,” Ten Hag said. “He trained but he had to do some treatment, he had to do some individual training. Today he joined in with the group. We have one more day. I have a good hope he will be available.”
Luke Shaw is on the verge of signing a new long-term contract with United and the club are holding discussions with Rashford’s representatives about a renewal.
Rashford has tallied a career-best 27 goals so far this season but he is out of contract in June 2024 and Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed their interest in signing him, having met Rashford’s brother and agent, Dwaine, in August.
When asked if there was an update on Rashford’s future, Ten Hag replied: “We never [give an update]. It’s an internal process. We focus on winning games, of course also planning for the future. So in the back(ground), we’re working on that. It’s about agents, it’s about football director John Murtough. Rashy and I are focusing on performing.”
Rashford received some flak for flying across the Atlantic during a week off for United players. Although United had several players on international duty, those who were not called up by their nations had permission to head abroad.
In a season that United have already played 46 games and a World Cup was held in November and December, Ten Hag had no issue with Rashford or any other United player embarking on a springtime holiday.
“I think it’s positive that he was in a break,” Ten Hag opined. “I think with Bruno (Fernandes), he was playing the most games of the whole squad.
And I think with Manchester United playing the most games across Europe and especially the internationals, our internationals are not mostly on the bench, mostly they are playing.
And I think with Manchester United playing the most games across Europe and especially the internationals, our internationals are not mostly on the bench, mostly they are playing.
