Marcus Rashford has returned to Manchester United this week for pre-season training
Manchester United icon John O’Shea believes it’ll be a straightforward conversation between Michael Carrick and Marcus Rashford about reintegrating into the first-team squad. The England international has spent the last 18 months playing his football away from United, but looks set to return to the fold this season.
Barcelona turned down the opportunity to sign Rashford on a permanent basis following his loan spell at the Nou Camp, and returned to pre-season training with the Reds earlier this week. There are still question marks over his long-term future at the club, but O’Shea believes his former teammate is the right man to get the best out of Rashford.
Speaking to ITV ahead of Man United’s pre-season friendly with Leeds United, O’Shea said: “Yeah, listen, it’s straightforward. I think it’ll be an honest conversation, straight up.
“Do you want to stay? If you do, great, let’s see what you’ve got again, and then start afresh. And listen, you know the fans, there’ll be question marks thinking, what are we doing, type of thing.
“But if he goes and struts his stuff at Old Trafford straight away, a lot will be forgiven, I think. [There’s] Still some questions to answer as well.”
Fellow pundit Michael Brown agreed, and said: “See, all those players we mentioned, we always have to come back down to Marcus Rashford.
“The reason it does, John, is because, as you know, he’s got everything, hasn’t he? He can change games. He’s electric, he’s got the pace. If you can get the best out of him, then it’d be a great sign.
“I think Michael Carrick is a great person to go and do that. He’s going to have to work, he’s going to have to earn it to get into the team, but imagine if he was firing this season.”
Rashford travelled with the United squad to face Leeds United in Dublin at Croke Park, but was not part of the matchday squad having just returned to training this week.
It was a decent performance from Carrick’s men, who opened the scoring in the first half through Joshua Zirkzee in the 16th minute,after some great footwork from Bryan Mbeumo down the left-hand side.
However, Leeds restored some parity when Brenden Aaronson equaliser just before the half hour mark.
Neither side was able to find the all important breakthrough in the second half, before a penalty shootout infront of a sold out Croke Park.
Bruno Fernandes missed from the spot for United, but they still ran out 5-4 winners with Harry Wilson and James Justin missing for Leeds.
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