It’s been quite a week for emerging superstar Marcus Rashford, who continues to prove he is quite the young striker and it’s time to start discussing him in the same bracket as Dele Alli. He needs to go to France.
Rashford has burst on to the scene with a mind-numbing seven goals in twelve appearances for one of the biggest teams on the planet and has overtaken £36 million man Anthony Martial as United’s brightest young prospect. Four of these goals have been spanked in in the Premier League, in seven appearances. To put this in perspective, one Wayne Rooney has seven goals in 23 appearances, and is supposedly nailed on to go to France. If Rashford had made the same number outings as Harry Kane this year, he’d be on 18 goals at this rate.
This is all hypothetical of course. But the fact of the matter is Rashford is developing at an astonishing rate. He’s scoring on all fronts, too. It’s not like it’s just the Aston Villa’s, he has two against Arsenal, scored one to take United to Wembley against West Ham – he’s even scored in Europe. The fact of the matter is this boy is a natural born goalscorer, and there is very little reason for him not to be part of England’s strike force in France.
Some say he’s too inexperienced. This is a fair point. The guy is 18-years-old. But then again, we are taking one of the youngest squads ever to this illustrious competition. Our leading talisman, Harry Kane, is only 22 years of age. Two of the components in our engine room, Dele Alli, who only turned 20 last week, and Eric Dier, aged 22, are incredibly young. You could then argue that these players have been part of the England bevy for most of this season, but there are still friendlies before the Euros to chuck Rashford in there and see what happens.
You can also glance back to the success that a young Michael Owen was in the 1998 World Cup. Though it’s true to say that Owen played a hell of a lot more games in the run up to that competition, his experience of England first team football was exactly the same as Rashford’s.
Look to Rashford’s rivals for the spot too, you won’t find much there. Yes, Kane, Vardy and undoubtedly Rooney are unquestionably on the plane, but should the likes of Danny Welbeck and Daniel Sturridge be chosen over our young gem? Welbeck has made one less appearance than Rashford in all competitions this season, and is three goals following. Sturridge has made five more showings than Marcus and has only one more goal. In terms of goalscoring, Rashford still comes out the better.
But the detractors and critics of this world will denounce Rashford’s lack of England pedigree, and keep their allegiance’s with the two Danny’s. I think if you stand back and admire this Premier League season, I think this is the year of the kids. Look at all the youngsters making significant waves in Premier League waters: Kane, Lukaku, Alli, Dier, Rashford, Butland and so on and so forth. The England team is build on a foundation of experienced heads, but the jewels in the crown are that of the youngsters – why not add another?
For me, there is little reason not to allow Rashford into this England squad. He’s showing all the signs of a fabulous young centre forward and is a brilliant, young, exciting talent. His movement, ball skills and finishing are all superb and he seems to be eclipsing those rivaling him for a spot. He doesn’t have to start, but he’s a damn fine back up.
Source: DSG
