Marcus Rashford is back in the England squad. (Image: Getty)
have once again over their decision to reward career-best season with a new contract after his recall. The Red Devils faced intense criticism during Rashford’s startling decline in the one-and-a-half years after he signed a lucrative new deal until 2028 worth around £300,000 per week.
However, he had just scored a career-best 30 goals in all competitions across the 2022/23 season to place himself among Europe’s elite forwards. The United academy graduate’s relationship with his boyhood club dwindled after a series of disciplinary matters off the pitch and poor performances on it since committing his future. And after escaping Old Trafford for Aston Villa on loan in the January transfer window, Rashford has enjoyed a new lease on life under Unai Emery.
The 27-year-old is yet to score his first Villa goal after nine appearances but has registered four assists, each of them for Marco Asensio goals in a devastating new partnership.
His early impact at Villa Park earned an England recall in Thomas Tuchel’s first squad, having achieved his last cap in a friendly against Brazil on March 23, 2024.
Explaining his decision on Friday, the new Three Lions manager expressed how impressed he had been with Rashford’s exploits in the infancy of his switch to the Midlands.
“A familiar face, back in the team, but it’s a bit of a different situation [to Jordan Henderson],” Tuchel said. “I feel like Marcus has had a huge impact at Aston Villa since he changed to Aston Villa.
Thomas Tuchel has called on Marcus Rashford. (Image: Getty)
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“He made a huge impact, mostly from the bench. Lately I think he got two matches from the start.
“In the Champions League, the impact was impressive, the physical impact was impressive, and most importantly, the impact against the ball, his work rate, his defensive impact, his hard work in counter-pressing, his tracking back in his position was impressive.
“And I had a strong feeling that we should nominate him, should bring him in to push him to stay on that level, to not fall back into old routines.
“It was very impressive, and this camp is to bond with him and, of course, get to know him and push him to stay on that exact level.”
While United were right to part ways with Rashford in the winter, it’s a fair assessment to say the club were well within their rights to back their homegrown No. 10 in the summer of 2023.
His return to the England frame is only good news for the M16 giants with the summer transfer window and the need to raise funds through his sale in mind.