Posted by After recovering from a long-term shoulder injury, Ole Gunnar Solskjr wants Marcus Rashford to “prioritize” football for Manchester United above off-field obligations.
After undergoing surgery in August, the 23-year-old might make his season debut against Leicester on Saturday. Solskjr was not implying that Rashford had not previously been completely focused on his game, but rather that now that he is fit again, he must let nothing to distract him.
“I know that we will see the best of Marcus in the years to come,” the manager said. “He has done remarkable things at a young age but he is now coming into the best age for a footballer and he is more experienced. He has [had] time to reflect. You know what he has done off the pitch as well, because he has done some fantastic things, and now to prioritise, maybe prioritise his football and focus on football because he’s got a challenge on his hands here at Manchester United, he has a challenge on his hands to play for England.
“I think Marcus is one of those who takes up those challenges and is going to. He is going to express himself and his talent and he knows that we want a lot from him but we are going to give him the time to get back to what he was and what he can be.”
Rashford has campaigned against child poverty and caused two government U-turns regarding free meals for pupils. Solskjær said: “He does look fresh, he looks keen. He’s bulked up a little, some muscle. Of course he had to bear a lot of the responsibility for us because we’ve had injuries and at such a young age he’s done so much for the team and he’s done so much off the pitch as well.
“The time away for him was the time maybe to focus on himself and, I don’t want to say get back to being himself, but Marcus Rashford running around with that enthusiasm, not having to take on too much responsibility, is a great sight to see. He comes back into a different team. He’s got Jadon [Sancho] here, Mason’s [Greenwood] grown, Cristiano [Ronaldo] is here.”
source : Guardian sport