The England international has missed the start of the new Premier League season after undergoing surgery.
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Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has informed that Marcus Rashford will be unavailable until after the international break as he recovers from a shoulder operation. After undergoing surgery, the England international missed the start of the new Premier League season. Rashford’s earliest possible return date is the Reds’ first match after the next international break – a difficult trip to Leicester City on 16 October. However, there is plenty of football to be played before then. It starts with a Carabao Cup third-round tie with West Ham United at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
When Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was asked how he gets the players prepared for another competition, the manager told the club media, “That’s easy. It’s another game, the next game and, of course, after the win on Sunday, everyone is looking forward to the next one. You do anyway, if you lose or you win but the spirit is good and it’s a new challenge.”
“It’s strange how it works out and you meet the same team twice in three days. We need to give some minutes to a few, that’s definite, and I think we’ve got a good squad. Quite a few of these are champing at the bit to show what they can do.”
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer spoke about the talent coming through the Academy. He was especially pleased with Anthony Elanga. “Anthony was terrific in pre-season – his attitude, his enthusiasm, his directness. I love to see players like this and, of course, he was disappointed not to travel down to West Ham but scored for the Reserves, or Under-23s, and now he’s ready. He’ll be involved in the squad, yeah,” Ole informed.
The club fans were understandably excited to see Marcus Rashford and Alex Telles training. Providing update on their recovery situation, Ole said, “Yeah it’s going well. They’ve worked really hard, both of them. Alex is a bit further on than Marcus. I don’t think we’ll see Marcus until after the international break but Alex has worked well and will be in the squad as well.”
He added: “We lost nobody on Sunday so it’s the same squad or same pool of players to choose from. We know it’s early on in the season and some need minutes to get their proper fitness up so I will make a few changes.”
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer then turned his attention to defender Phil Jones and the challenges he has been facing lately. “I’m so happy for Phil. He has completed two 90 minutes for the Under-23s and played some minutes behind closed doors and he’s got no reaction on his knee. He’s been working really hard. I’ve been part of that myself and had the best part of three years or at least more than two out of three years and I know what challenges he’s been through, mentally,” he added.
“Thinking will I ever play football again or even be able to walk again and be able to play with the kids in the garden. He’s been so diligent and so professional; no frills, no social media and I’m old school. I like players like that. He just focuses on one thing and gets his head around the challenges and he’s back. He will also be in the squad. It’s a good day for him and for us and it’s something that he has earned.”
