Marcus Rasford has “massive decisions” to make when it comes to his Manchester United and England future, says Ian Wright.
The 20-year-old remains part of the Three Lions set-up, having been named in Gareth Southgate’s latest squad , but his role at Old Trafford is causing concern.
Jose Mourinho has continued to stick a Red Devils academy graduate on the wing or the bench , with a player of considerable potential being prevented from unlocking it.
A move elsewhere has already been mooted and Wright believes a player who has made no secret of his desire to operate as a central striker needs to seriously weigh up his options.
The former England frontman told BBC Radio 5 Live : “I think that Rashford, especially when he burst onto the scene, we saw flashes of a striker that can go into the space and he can link up, and he can finish.
“Now, what’s happened to him since he’s been at United on the left or the right, wherever they play him, he’s played everywhere apart from up front learning his trade.
“He’s got pace, he’s got skill, he’s got finishing ability. He’s been playing in roles that have taken the edge of those sides of his game.
“Rashford’s got massive, massive, decisions to make in the next year, 18 months for me.
“He’s either got to leave Manchester United and play, and play in a position where he’s going to start to be that player we all thought he was going to be when he burst onto the scene, scoring goals left, right and centre every competition he has played in or he’s going to have to stay there, whether it’s Mourinho or whoever it is, and maybe playing on the left, maybe playing on the right, maybe playing up front.”
Getty ImagesWright believes the England camp would be in favour of a move for Rashford if it meant he was given regular game time in a preferred role, especially as the Three Lions now find themselves short of attacking options.
He added: “I wouldn’t want to sit here and say Gareth wants him to [leave United].
“I don’t know that, but the fact is you can’t tell me that Gareth, knowing that he only has Harry Kane as a main guy, Danny Welbeck is not starting for Arsenal, Jamie Vardy’s just retired.
“You can’t tell me that Gareth wouldn’t want someone like Marcus Rashford playing regularly.
“He would be absolutely desperate for that to be happening.”
Rashford has started just one Premier League game for United this season and lasted only 10 minutes off the bench in his latest outing against Burnley before being shown a straight red card .