Incoming England boss Thomas Tuchel has reached out to Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, offering him a potential spot in his Three Lions squad—provided he can maintain his form.
Known for his tactical acumen and high expectations, Tuchel, who takes the helm in January, has wasted no time showing his interest in the United forward. According to sources close to the player, Tuchel’s call was as much about admiration as it was about opportunity, with the German manager making it clear he views Rashford as vital to England’s attacking prospects.
Tuchel’s message to Rashford emphasized his belief that the United star’s absence hindered England’s chances at Euro 2024. Tuchel pointed to the unique threat Rashford poses, especially on the left wing, where his pace and finishing ability have historically troubled defenders. With England’s offensive game often skewed to the right, Tuchel believes Rashford would bring balance and create more difficulties for opponents. The praise from the incoming coach was, according to insiders, a major morale boost for Rashford, who is working hard to recapture his peak form.
Rashford’s omission from Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad was a tough blow, coming after a disappointing season where he managed only eight goals. This season, however, the 27-year-old has shown glimpses of his former self, netting four goals and three assists despite Manchester United’s challenging start to the campaign. Tuchel’s interest could provide additional motivation for the forward, who is reportedly adding one-to-one training sessions to his regimen in a bid to elevate his performance.
With Tuchel’s January arrival just around the corner, Rashford has the perfect chance to make a strong impression on his prospective manager. United’s upcoming clash with Leicester on Sunday is an opportunity for Rashford to showcase his skills. Although his last outing was a substitute appearance in United’s Europa League win over PAOK, Rashford has been steadily increasing his playing time as he works to regain both fitness and form.
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Despite only four goals in 17 appearances this season—and just one in the Premier League—Rashford’s resurgence hasn’t gone unnoticed. His determination to turn things around has put him back in the conversation for a potential England recall, although current England manager Lee Carsley recently left him out of the squad for the Nations League games against Greece and the Republic of Ireland.
Rashford’s England career began with a bang back in 2016, and over the years he’s racked up 17 goals in 60 caps. But a combination of injuries, inconsistency, and managerial decisions has limited his appearances recently. In fact, he’s only suited up for England once this year, in a friendly loss to Brazil back in March.
Tuchel’s words come at a pivotal time for Rashford. As he tries to shake off a slow start to the season, the prospect of becoming a key player under a new England manager could be exactly the motivation he needs. Tuchel’s high regard for Rashford’s unique skill set—the speed, the power, the goal-scoring ability—reinforces the player’s potential value to England’s squad.
While there are still months to go before Tuchel officially takes charge, his early move to connect with Rashford signals an openness to reshaping the England squad. Tuchel’s proactive approach and confidence in Rashford’s abilities suggest that England fans may see a new-look national team come January, with Rashford playing a more integral role than in recent years.
As Rashford continues to put in extra hours on the training pitch and looks to make an impact in Manchester United’s upcoming fixtures, fans will be watching closely to see if he can rise to the challenge Tuchel has set.
