Alan Shearer feels Marcus Rashford’s place in England’s Euro 2024 squad is in serious jeopardy, while Manchester United team-mate Kobbie Mainoo has put himself in the frame.
The Three Lions followed up a defeat against Brazil with an entertaining 2-2 draw against Belgium on Tuesday evening, rescuing a draw in the 95th minute thanks to Jude Bellingham.
Rashford was an unused substitute against Belgium and only played 15 minutes against Brazil, and Shearer feels he could be one of several high-profile omissions Gareth Southgate will need to make ahead of the Euros.
Writing for The Athletic, Shearer said of the United forward: ‘If Rashford plays well between now and the end of the season, then that could potentially force the manager’s hand. But I don’t think he’s a certainty to go, no.
‘He’s not a centre-forward, he doesn’t want to play there. He’d be going as a wide forward who can play as a striker in an emergency.
‘You can tell from his body language that he doesn’t want to play there for Manchester United. If he’s going to be in the squad, it wouldn’t be ahead of Harry Kane, Watkins or Toney, it’d be as a wide forward.’
He continued: ‘Mainoo definitely [played his way into Southgate’s plans], considering that this season he’s been unbelievable. What a story, given where he was last summer to where he is now.
‘You haven’t got time to mess around when it comes to making an impression. The games are very limited so when you get an opportunity, you have to take it.
‘I think Anthony Gordon has taken his, he impressed on Saturday (in the Brazil game), and Mainoo is another. With Toney, I thought he did well — he was given an opportunity and took it.
‘In terms of players who didn’t play particularly well, I thought Ben Chilwell struggled on Saturday, and he gave it away a couple of times against Belgium. But what may work in his favour is that England aren’t blessed with many options in that position.
‘Lewis Dunk also made mistakes against Belgium, which led to a goal. Ezri Konsa did OK in the two matches, so he did himself no harm.
‘The problem the wingers have is there are so many of them. Grealish, Jarrod Bowen, Rashford, Gordon and Bukayo Saka, to name just a few, and so at least a couple of good players could miss out.
‘Grealish and Rashford are definitely under pressure for their positions. It’s tough but, whoever Gareth picks, he can just point at all the options, whereas defensively he doesn’t have anywhere near as much depth.’
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