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England ensured they may end prime of their European qualifying group final evening after a routine victory towards worldwide minnows Malta.
A primary-half personal aim was supplemented by Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane within the second half to assist Gareth Southgate’s facet safe a 2-0 win.
Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford began the match regardless of being out of shape at membership stage.
Sadly for Rashford, he solely lasted an hour at Wembley after limping off the pitch and being changed by Chelsea winger Cole Palmer.
Alarm bells are mentioned to have gone off for Erik ten Hag after seeing Rashford in ache, however England boss Southgate believes the striker ought to be superb after the blow.
As The Categorical reported, Southgate spoke to the press after the win and addressed Rashford’s doable damage.
“I believe he (Rashford) might be superb. Given the character of the collision, we thought it was a chance to get Cole concerned. I did not decide an excessive amount of, however I believe he did properly when he obtained out,” he mentioned.
Southgate’s feedback can be music to Ten Hag’s ears after he has confronted an damage disaster all through his squad this season.
Regardless of Rashford’s poor kind, he stays one of many key gamers in United’s attacking entrance and damage could be one other enormous blow for Ten Hag.
After his spectacular 30-goal run final season, Rashford has scored simply as soon as for United this season and has appeared a shadow of the participant who terrorized defenses throughout Europe final 12 months.
It stays to be seen whether or not the 27-year-old can be unnoticed of the England squad or function of their last qualifying match towards Macedonia on Monday.
With the sport lifeless for each nations, it could actually be a sensible choice to relaxation gamers who want relaxation or should not absolutely match.
It additionally presents Southgate the possibility to offer expertise to some fringe gamers, which is why it could be a shock if Rashford will get his 59th cap in Macedonia.
United are again in motion subsequent weekend with a visit to a fired-up Everton group that can be reeling from the Premier League’s controversial choice to award them 10 factors for breaching profitability and sustainability guidelines.