HARRY MAGUIRE has praised Marcus Rashford for his spectacular England return.
Rashford scored twice against Wales on his first Three Lions start since June 2021.
Maguire, his club captain at Manchester United, said: “I am really pleased for Marcus.
“For the last year or so he has been in and out of the England team and set up.
“He has really found his form again for Manchester United and he is a massive player for our club, throughout a long career, you will always have ups and downs and it is all about how you bounce back when you are out of form.
“He has kept working hard and done that tirelessly. I can’t speak highly enough of Marcus.
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“He is a wonderful man and a great player.
“He showed he belongs on this stage.”
Rashford’s form dipped after he suffered racial abuse for his penalty miss in the final of the Euros.
A shoulder injury also restricted him and Gareth Southgate recalled him only for the World Cup.
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Maguire said: “This last year has been difficult for him but all good players rise to the top again.
“I am sure the coaching staff and everyone close to him try to help him. I am close to Marcus, a good mate of his on and off the field, the main thing is trying to get the belief back in his game.
“Marcus is a fantastic talent and you see it day in day out when you train with him. It was a matter of time until he got his confidence and form back.
“When he gets that opportunity with the confidence that he has, he is a threat to anyone.”
Maguire was also delighted with England’s performance against Wales, which took off with Rashford’s fabulous free kick early in the second half.
The United defender said: “It was an amazing performance.
“The first half set us up to do what we did in the second half. A lot of the games in the World Cup, if you watch them, there’s really tense first halves.
“This is the biggest competition in the world so it is not going to be easy and free-flowing football always like you want it to be or it was against Iran in the first half.
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“We controlled it from minute one, it was 3-0 and could have been more.
“It is a great night for our country, everyone involved but it is only one game and another big game coming around the corner. “
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
