MARCUS Rashford’s injury was the last thing Manchester United needed. The club’s best player this season and the top scorer with at least one goal in half United’s league matches to his name, his absence has already been felt. Talk about booting a club when they are down. United are now without Rashford, Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay, three of their best players. And how it is showing. Defeat at home to Burnley on Wednesday was the fifth in a month. It’s awful.
United might have rested Rashford anyway at Tranmere on Sunday in the FA Cup 4th round game for a first-ever visit to Prenton Park (though United played a war time fixture there and a centenary game for financially strapped Tranmere). United have beaten the team from across the Mersey, who play in England’s fourth tier, in a 1976 League Cup tie.
But what about when United play Manchester City (again) and Wolves (again) as they do next week? Or Chelsea (again) in the first week after a much-needed winter break for United’s fatigued players? It looks daunting right now writing this during the season’s low point for United. The timing of Rashford’s injury could barely be worse, but football can change quickly and Solskjaer has made a habit of pulling a result out when he really needs one. Can he really work that trick again under the present circumstances?
Prior to his injury, Marcus Rashford has been directly involved in 18 Premier League goals this season, exactly 50% of Man Utd’s total league goals.
He's going to be a BIG miss… pic.twitter.com/6b8P6ZDpwF
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) January 23, 2020
United are defensive of their treatment of the Mancunian and Solskjaer spent much of the Burnley pre-match conference countering criticism of it, but, given the weakness of his squad, he’s needed his best players to get through games. He brought Rashford on as a sub in the FA Cup replay against Wolves because he needed a breakthrough. Rashford set up the goal which led to it and the game against Tranmere before being substituted himself after sustaining a double fracture of his back after only 16 minutes on the pitch.
United knew the severity of the injury a few days before the Liverpool game but quite rightly didn’t want that news getting out since he’s a player who could have made a difference against the league leaders. But has he been overplayed? No United player had started more games than Rashford this season. Was it really necessary to start him for 62 minutes against Colchester United in December in a month when United had an implausible six home games? At least he began the AZ cup game the previous week on the bench.
Hindsight is wonderful; the amount of games United play is not. Money triumphs in football and players often feel pressured to play, even when they are not 100%. There are plenty who will say they put their bodies on the line – literally – to play for Sir Alex Ferguson. Plenty who have regrets that they did so, too.
It’s to Rashford’s credit that he wants to help the team he supports in any way he can. Something had to give and it did – his back.
United didn’t help the situation. Going into this season short of strikers meant an over-reliance on the best one. It has also allowed for opportunities for Mason Greenwood, 18, but the squad was only a few injuries away from being exposed and that’s exactly what has happened.
United needed a deeper squad and everyone who didn’t make that happen is culpable: the Glazers, Ed Woodward and the manager. Solskjaer needs players and he needs them now. The club have no appetite for sacking him but more dreadful results like the one against Burnley and he’ll lose his job before Woodward will.
Solskjær: "He’s [Rashford] going to get as long as he needs to get fit. We’re not going to risk him when he’s had an injury. I’ve got the best medical staff in the country and I’m sure when Marcus comes back, he’ll be 100 per cent fit." #mulive [mirror]
— utdreport (@utdreport) January 21, 2020
United knew that Rashford had issues with his back as long ago as August – and well before then. He said it publicly: “When I was younger I used to have a lot of problems in my back, so I got used to using this machine, he said. ‘I still use it, a bone-healing ultrasound machine called Melmak. Put a bit of gel on it, strap it around.’
The Melmak goes with him to away games and he was wearing it to Old Trafford for the Norwich game two weeks ago. That was his 200th United game at the age of 22. No Premier League player has played as many games as Rashford since he made his brilliant United debut in 2016. Throw in games for England too since Rashford has become one of the main strikers in his national team and the toll is there for all to see.
Rashford didn’t appear to have the machine with him as he got stuck into popcorn last Friday night at the cinema near Manchester with Jesse Lingard. ‘Bad Boys 3’, if you’re asking.
Their league season continues to take a battering, but United are still in three cups – albeit the Carabao by a thread since they’re 1-3 down to Manchester City.
So what do United do? They’re short up front, as was shown against Burnley on Wednesday. Short of goals, confidence, experience and options. Aaron Wan Bissaka is putting the ball in but there’s nobody finishing. Signings are needed and would be welcome, even if they were on loan to patch up the squad. That’s what the transfer window is for and Henrik Larsson was a revolutionary signing for United when he came on loan in 2007. Although the stats show only 13 appearances and three goals, he galvanised the team immediately. The other United players respected the Swede and his arrival boosted the mood. And that was when United were good.
Rashford said he wants to get back before the end of the season. His club and country need him. The question for his club is that their season might already be over before he returns.
