By Martin Graham
Marcus Rashford, currently spending the season on loan at Aston Villa from Manchester United, is likely to miss the remainder of the campaign due to a hamstring injury. The 27-year-old forward was ruled out of Villa’s FA Cup semi-final defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday, and medical staff are continuing to assess the seriousness of the issue.
Although there is a slight possibility he could return before the final rounds of the Premier League, the odds are against it. Should he recover in time, Rashford’s last appearance for Villa would be against Tottenham Hotspur on 18 May. However, he would be unavailable for Villa’s final match of the season against Manchester United on 25 May, as loan regulations prevent him from facing his parent club.
During the weekend, Rashford was spotted attending the boxing clash between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Despite his injury setback, he made no public statements regarding his fitness or future plans.
Instead of risking a premature return, Rashford is expected to concentrate on being fully fit for England’s upcoming matches in June. The national team is scheduled to face Andorra in a World Cup qualifying fixture and take on Senegal in an international friendly.
Earlier this year, Rashford was recalled to the England squad by new manager Thomas Tuchel after being left out of the Euro 2024 tournament roster. His inclusion in Tuchel’s first selection signaled a fresh opportunity to re-establish himself at the international level, provided he can complete his recovery in time.
Looking ahead, Rashford has decided not to engage in discussions with other clubs regarding his next move until after the summer. Although his current deal with Manchester United runs through 2028, the forward reportedly does not expect to feature for United again while Ruben Amorim is in charge at Old Trafford.
The upcoming months are likely to be crucial for Rashford as he recovers from injury, weighs his options, and prepares for both his international commitments and an important decision about the next step in his career.
