Marcus Rashford has responded to his return to the England national team after being unexpectedly included in Thomas Tuchel’s first squad as Three Lions manager.
Rashford, who last represented his country in March 2024 during a 1-0 loss to Brazil, has earned his place back in the squad following a solid start to his loan spell at Aston Villa.
After losing his spot in the Manchester United team, the 27-year-old joined Villa on loan for the remainder of the season. Since his arrival, he has provided four assists in nine appearances, with Villa suffering only one loss during that time.
Rashford was one of several surprise inclusions by Tuchel, alongside Jordan Henderson, Reece James, and Kyle Walker. The England manager commented, “With Marcus, he’s a familiar face but in a different situation. I felt he had a huge impact at Aston Villa, especially from the bench. His physical impact was impressive, and most importantly, his work rate, defensive ability, and tracking back were all standout. I had a strong feeling we should call him up, push him to maintain this level, and avoid slipping back into old habits. This camp is about helping him stay at that level.”
Following his inclusion in the squad for World Cup qualifiers against Latvia and Albania, Rashford shared his excitement on Instagram. Posting a photo of himself in England gear, he wrote: “Never stop believing England flag emoji Can’t wait to get started praying emoji.”
Rashford’s resurgence raises further questions about Manchester United, as his exclusion from the team for several weeks has proven ineffective, with the academy graduate shining in Birmingham instead.
Marcus Rashford eight-word England message speaks volumes for Man United and Ruben Amorim
