Manchester United news: Marcus Rashford is best as a ‘wide raider’ rather than a No 9, says Gareth Southgate
The England manager believes the forward is not best suited to the outright striking role he often occupies at club level
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Gareth Southgate feels Marcus Rashford’s best work is as a “wide raider” rather than an outright No 9, despite the Manchester United forward seeming energised by comparisons to Harry Kane.
The captain made it 26 goals for England with his hat-trick against Bulgaria, one of them having come from the penalty after Rashford had been fouled out wide.
“There’s a little bit of that,” Southgate said of the United forward being inspired by Kane. “But also, a little bit, that although we’ve for a long time almost wanted Marcus to be that option as a nine, I’m still not certain that that is where he is happiest and where he does his best work.
“A lot of his development at United was as a ‘wide raider’ and I think he isn’t as strong as Harry with his back to goal and holding play up, so if he plays as a nine, he will play it differently to Harry, but a lot of his best work is in that inside-left channel coming in off the line.
“I don’t think that’s a problem, we just have to be aware that that’s probably his profile to get the best out of him, they’re the areas on the pitch that he needs to get in.”
Southgate pointed to how Kevin Keegan had tried to alter Michael Owen’s game for England, while making a mild joke at the latter’s latest book this week. The manager had been asked whether Rashford might have developed differently had he gone out on loan earlier in his career.
“I think it’s difficult to say because their skill-set is different and when you look at so many different centre-forwards and the strengths that they have, they all are slightly different. I can remember Kevin trying to get Michael – it’s probably in his book! – to come to the ball and hold it up.
“It was throwing Michael a little bit because his game was to get in behind teams and that’s where his goals have come from, and I think it’s hard because I think that a player’s attributes are formed relatively early. You can work on things and improve things for sure.
“But, by 18, 19 or 20 their super strengths are already there. The other bits, you can hone a bit or polish a bit. But, I think their outstanding attributes have already developed. A lot of it is through their physical capabilities.
“But that’s why it’s so exciting for players like Mason [Mount] or [Phil] Foden because they are physically smaller. They have had to find a way to survive against the bigger kids. But then when their growth comes as well, they’ve got the strength added to the skill.
“But I wouldn’t be so sure that Marcus [Rashford] would have developed differently, just by the loan. Every experience you take something from but I think his major strengths are, as we see them and for internationals, we have to find the best positions for them to get those strengths out.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments