Manchester United striker Rashford named in England U21 squad

Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford has struggled for game-time since Zlatan Ibrahimovic joined to become Jose Mourinho's first-choice.

Rashford last played for United in the Community Shield

Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford has dropped down to the England Under-21s after failing to figure in Jose Mourinho's first two Premier League games.

Rashford, 18, scored three minutes into his England debut against Australia in June and was perhaps the only player to emerge with any credit from the catastrophic Euro 2016 defeat to Iceland.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's arrival has seen Rashford dropped to the United bench and England U21 coach Gareth Southgate indicated new coach Sam Allardyce wanted the Wythenshawe teenager to play for the juniors.

"Last season, his pathway was remarkable and we’re very conscious of plotting how we develop our young players.

"We spoke a lot with Manchester United last season when we put him in the U20s in March, which both they and ourselves felt was the right thing at the time.
"He then continued his progress, which was great, and of course he played a part in Roy’s squad at the Euros.

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"But if he’s less likely to start with the seniors at this moment in time, and Sam [Allardyce] is quite keen that people are playing regularly, we think that it’s now a good opportunity in his international development for him to be with the U21s."

Rashford's last appearance for United was a 20-minute cameo in the Community Shield victory over Leicester.

Mourinho said on the eve of the new season Ibrahimovic was a 'gift' for Rashford.
"He [Ibrahimovic] is brilliant with the young boys. I think, for Rashford, this is a gift," Mourinho said. "We are so happy to have him. We couldn't find a better striker than him to give us the stability we need."

Rashford and Ibrahimovic celebrate United's Community Shield win

Last month, Mourinho suggested Ibrahimovic and Rashford could strike up an 'amazing' partnership.
"Thirty-four is his age plus 18 Marcus Rashford's age," Mourinho explained. "Thirty-four plus 18 divided by two is the perfect age for a football player.

"So our two strikers are exactly in the perfect age, because 18 is not the perfect age, 34 is not.
"So I think they can be an amazing complement for each other."
Ibrahimovic has scored four goals in three games for United since his free transfer from Pars Saint-Germain.