OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has launched a vehement defence of his handling of Marcus Rashford.
The England striker’s back injury could threaten his involvement in the Euros.
Solskjaer has defended his use of the now-injured Rashford
It was initially thought Manchester United’s top scorer would be out for two months after suffering a double fracture in his back.
Worryingly, yesterday, Solskjaer did not deny it could be much longer and even threaten his participation for the Three Lions this summer.
Rashford lasted just 15 minutes after going on in the second half against Wolves last Wednesday, having been subbed in the previous game against Norwich with a back problem.
It led to Arsenal legend Ian Wright – and a hoard of fans – accusing Solskjaer of thinking about himself before the player.
But Solskjaer replied: “I never put myself before the team. I always put the team and the club before anything else.”
Asked if the injury could threaten Rashford’s involvement in the Euros, Solskjaer said: “Marcus is going to get as long as he needs to get fit.
“We are not going to risk him when he has had an injury.
“I have the best medical staff in the country and I am sure when Marcus comes back he will be 100 per cent fit.”
Yet question marks remain over United’s handling of Rashford, 22.
Solskjaer admitted after the third-round FA Cup replay against Wolves that the decision to bring Rashford on had “backfired”.
Then yesterday he said United do take risks with players before immediately correcting himself.
Solskjaer said: “You know we monitor and we take risks… not take risks, we have to manage players every single day, loads of things that Ian Wright or anyone doesn’t know about.
“The medical staff here are very, very good. This one is just one of those unfortunate things.”
Solskjaer admitted Rashford has had problems with his back dating back to the victory at tonight’s visitors on December 28.
The Norwegian said: “He’s had minor discomfort in his back since the Burnley game. We’ve had scans, we’ve monitored him. There’s not been any injury there.
“I had a conversation with him the day before or two days before the FA Cup game and said, ‘I’m going to rest you’.
“I left him on the bench hoping we’d have enough to win the game without him.
“He felt fine. He was very adamant that, if needed, he could at least do half an hour because we want to go through in the Cup because it’s a big tournament for us.
“That just shows you Marcus’ attitude. That was the second day after we played Norwich.
“He had an extra day of treatment and recovery because we wanted to give him all the chance to be ready for the coming games.
“He had no complaints training the day before the game. He looked very free and when I asked him if it was OK to be on the bench, no problem. He wanted to come on.”
He’s had issues before with his back and he’s always played with them, never complained.
Solskjaer on Rashford’s injury
Yet Rashford was pictured entering Old Trafford before that game carrying a bone fracture healing machine, emphasising he had an ongoing problem.
Solskjaer said: “I don’t think he’s used it a lot. I don’t know, I cannot micro-manage every single player.
“Marcus is a guy who wants to make sure he tries absolutely everything to maximise his career.
“It’s probably something he’s initiated with the medical staff here to make sure he is healing as quick as he has always done.
“He’s had issues before with his back and he’s always played with them, never complained.”
Well, whatever mistake there was or not in dealing with Rashford, United are without him for tonight’s game at Old Trafford and for the foreseeable future.
It means there will be more reliance on Anthony Martial, who missed a sitter in the 2-0 defeat at Anfield on Sunday, and 18-year-old Mason Greenwood.
Solskjaer could make a move in the January window to plug the gap. He said: “If we find something in the transfer market, that might be one solution.
“But the best solution is the players stepping up, making sure they are ready and taking their chance.”
United have been charged by the FA for failing to conduct themselves in an orderly fashion during Sunday’s loss to Liverpool.
Players surrounded ref Craig Pawson midway through the first half after Virgil van Dijk challenged David De Gea and Roberto Firmino subsequently scored a disallowed “goal”.
United have until tomorrow to respond to the charge. Solskjaer said: “I reacted myself because everybody could see it was a foul.”
LIKELY LINE-UPS
MAN UTD: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Pereira, Matic, Fred, Mata, Martial, James.
BURNLEY: Pope, Bardsley, Mee, Tarkowski, Taylor, Hendrick, Cork, Westwood, McNeil, Rodriguez, Wood.
How Man Utd could line-up if Solskjaer is given two transfer windows to turn squad
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
