Man Utd make decision on Marcus Rashford selection after scan on groin injury
Marcus Rashford hobbled off during Manchester United’s 2-0 win over Everton last weekend, with Erik ten Hag sweating over the availability of his top goalscorer
Manchester United will not gamble on Marcus Rashford’s fitness for Thursday’s Europa League tie with Sevilla.
Rashford, United’s top scorer this season with 28 goals, came off towards the end of Saturday’s 2-0 win over Everton with a groin injury.
The England striker underwent a scan on Tuesday and is likely to miss the quarter-final first-leg at Old Trafford on Thursday as a precaution. United are not willing to rush Rashford back and risk losing him for a longer period at such a crucial stage of the season.
The 25-year-old will only play if United’s medical team decide there is no risk of further aggravating the existing issue. Rashford pulled out of England’s opening Euro 2024 qualifiers after picking up a knock, and United are conscious of the need to protect their star striker.
After United’s win over Everton, Ten Hag was asked about the extent of Rashford’s injury and said: “I can’t say at this moment. Obviously he went off and we have to wait for the diagnosis and we will see.”
He added: “Some things you can’t avoid but it was avoidable. Why is the Premier League giving us the late Sunday night game (last week vs. Newcastle ) and giving us the early Saturday game? I think it’s not right.
“You run the risk, the players can’t recover that quickly, we know all research that players need a certain period to recover and it accumulates. So then you run even more of a risk. It’s also part of the schedule that we now find ourselves in this situation and now we can only pray he is not dropping off.”
Erik ten Hag’s side have already bagged the Carabao Cup this season and remain in the FA Cup and Europa League, as well as the race for a top-four place.
Although Rashford has been one of United’s best performers this season, Ten Hag has other options to call upon in his absence, in particular forward Anthony Martial.
Martial has been a familiar hostage to injury for much of the season, but got the scoresheet on Saturday, with his first Premier League goal since December.
Luke Shaw was not available for the win over Everton, after picking up an injury during United’s 1-0 win over Brentford last week.
Christian Eriksen returned from a two-month absence at the weekend, while Casemiro – who has one game left to serve of a four-match domestic ban – can play against Sevilla.
But the Brazilian midfielder will have to be disciplined, as he is one yellow card away from being suspended for the return leg, as is Bruno Fernandes. Alejandro Garnacho, Tom Heaton and Donny van de Beek are all unavailable through injury.
Sevilla go into the clash on the back of a bruising La Liga encounter which saw them surrender a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Celta Vigo on Friday night. Recently appointed boss Jose Luis Mendilibar is still unbeaten in the dugout, but had to settle for a point after his charges conceded twice in the final minutes.
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