Gareth Southgate has issued a stern warning to Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, emphasizing that his off-field behavior is under scrutiny as the announcement for England’s Euro 2024 squad approaches.
This comes after Rashford was notably dropped from United’s squad for their 4-2 victory over Newport County in the FA Cup fourth round. The decision followed Rashford’s absence from training, which he attributed to illness, only to be seen at a nightclub in Belfast the previous night.
United’s manager, Erik ten Hag, later confirmed that Rashford, who is 26 years old, had acknowledged his mistake and accepted responsibility for the incident.
Following this, Rashford was reintegrated into the first team. Despite this, Southgate’s recent comments suggest that Rashford’s place in the England squad for Euro 2024 is not secure, highlighting the importance of both on-field performance and off-field conduct.
“We’re five weeks away from picking a squad, although so much happens to players over the period between November and March that we’re always sitting and observing everything on and off the pitch,” Southgate said. “Then in a few weeks’ time we’ll have decisions to make on the whole squad and there’s going to be a lot of attention on that because it’s the final squad before the Euros.”
England has upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Belgium in late March. While these matches do not necessarily require Southgate to finalize his squad for the summer tournament, he will likely avoid making significant changes afterwards, aiming for stability and coherence in the team.
Rashford has been a regular presence in the England squad, earning 59 caps, but he is not always a guaranteed starter. Southgate has numerous options to consider for his attacking lineup, often needing to select a third player to complement mainstays Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka.
Competing for this position alongside Rashford are notable talents such as Jack Grealish, Cole Palmer, Raheem Sterling, James Maddison, and Phil Foden, all of whom have made strong cases for their inclusion.
At the club level, Rashford has delivered a mixed performance this season, with five goals and six assists in 28 appearances for Manchester United.
Notably, he has contributed four goal involvements in his last five Premier League games, showing signs of returning to form. However, his inconsistency and recent off-field incident have cast a shadow over his contributions.
Southgate’s comments serve as a reminder that players are evaluated on their overall professionalism, including behavior off the pitch. Rashford’s incident has added an extra layer of scrutiny, and Southgate’s remarks indicate that the forward’s conduct could influence his selection for Euro 2024.
The competition for a spot in the England squad is fierce, with many players demonstrating impressive form. Rashford must not only maintain high performance levels on the pitch but also adhere to professional standards off it to secure his place.
As the Euro 2024 selection deadline approaches, Southgate will be closely monitoring all potential squad members, including Rashford, to ensure that those chosen represent the best balance of talent, form,and professionalism.
