Rashford withdraws from England duty with injury
The Football Association has confirmed that Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has withdrawn from international duty with England due to injury.
Rashford was named in the Three Lions squad by manager Gareth Southgate last week, for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Iceland and Denmark.
However, due to a slight ankle problem, it has now been decided that Marcus should not feature in those games in order to focus on his recovery.
Of course, Rashford’s domestic season with United only finished two weeks ago, on Sunday 16 August, when he played for 87 minutes in the Europa League semi-final, so a period of rest and recuperation is required.
An official update from the club reads: “Marcus is completing his recovery from a minor ankle problem in order to be ready for the Premier League season. The England games are just too soon given our short break after the Europa League.”
Via his official social media accounts, Rashford wrote: "Gutted. I never want to let this team down but these fixtures just came a little too soon for me. I tried my best but I have to focus on starting the season at my strongest for club and country. Good luck boys, I’ll be cheering you on from home."
United's first Premier League match of the 2020/21 season is against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on 19 September.
United goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who signed a new long-term contract with the club last week, is still part of the England squad and he is determined to impress manager Southgate.
The same can be said for fellow Academy graduate Mason Greenwood, who has been called up to the senior squad for the first time in his exciting career.
England’s two matches against Iceland and Denmark will take place in Reykjavik on 5 September and Copenhagen on 8 September respectively. Both will be played behind closed doors.
ANOTHER RED HAS RETURNED
It was previously confirmed that United defender Brandon Williams had withdrawn from the England Under-21 squad due to injury.
The 19-year-old is unfortunately nursing a minor football problem that means he cannot join up with Aidy Boothroyd’s squad for the European Championship qualifiers against Kosovo and Austria.
It would have been a step up for the full-back, whose previous international experience has come at Under-20 level.
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