Why Manchester United forwards Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford aren’t in England squad
Gareth Southgate has informed Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford that if they want to return to the England squad before the World Cup later this year, they must improve their own form.
Both Manchester United forwards have been left out of the team for this month’s Wembley doubleheader, with Southgate citing recent performances as the reason.
Rashford has struggled for United recently and is contemplating his future at the club, while Sancho has been in fine form for his club and is a surprise absence from the Three Lions team for games against Switzerland on Saturday, March 26 (5.30pm) and Ivory Coast on Tuesday, March 29. (7.45pm).
Despite his recent return to form, Southgate believes the attacking players in his team for these matches are having a more consistent season than Sancho.
“In our opinion, the other attacking players in the team are marginally ahead of him,” Southgate said after announcing his selection.
“You can see Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling, Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, and Jack Grealish’s names there.” Jadon’s performances have improved in recent weeks, but it’s an area of the field where we have a lot of competition for spots.”
Rashford was generally expected to be left out of the group after a poor run of form for his club. On Wednesday, Mourinho took to social media to explain a fight with a supporter outside Old Trafford following United’s elimination from the Champions League by Atletico Madrid earlier this week.
Southgate has challenged the 24-year-old to rediscover his best form before the World Cup in Qatar in order to secure his spot in the group.
“He’s in the same position as everyone else; whether they’re in the squad or not, they have to play well towards the conclusion of this season and, especially, the start of next,” he explained.
“It’s a trying period for him; he’s clearly not at his best, but we know a lot about Marcus, and hopefully he will recover the form we know he’s capable of.”
United’s only players in the group are Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw, and Southgate said that despite Maguire’s recent troubles for club form, he never contemplated removing him.
“I don’t think it ever occurred to us not to pick Harry Maguire for this squad; he’s been a critical component of the starting XI that brought us to a World Cup semi-final and a European Championship final,” he said.
“The club is going through a difficult phase, but you have to look at our top players, and he’s in that category; there’s no doubt in my mind that he’s one of our finest center backs.”
“I’ll always be accused of having double standards when it comes to picking on form, but there are nuances to that, and there is a more difficult approach to selecting a squad.”
“Harry now has over 40 caps, has been a consistently solid performer for us, was in the fall period as well, and hopefully he can continue that vein of form for us that he’s had for such a long time.”
