ITV pundits Roy Keane and Ian Wright dropped their instant verdicts on Manchester United and Barcelona player Marcus Rashford after England’s win against Serbia.
England have one foot through the door for securing qualification to the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted in North America across the US, Canada and Mexico.
The Three Lions have won all five of their World Cup qualifying matches so far and Thomas Tuchel saw his men thump 10-man Serbia 5-0 in their Group K clash.
Marcus Rashford was on the bench for the Serbia match and England manager Thomas Tuchel brought the Manchester United loanee on in the second half.
The United forward, who has been loaned out to Barcelona, received a much-needed confidence boost after he scored a superb penalty in the 90th minute against Serbia.
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Manchester United legend Roy Keane and Arsenal hero Ian Wright ahead of the 2024 Community Shield match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in 2024 in London, England.
Photo by Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images
Ian Wright reacted to what he saw from Man Utd and Barcelona forward Marcus Rashford in England’s 5-0 win vs Serbia
Barcelona star Marcus Rashford had been dropped to the bench for England’s second World Cup qualifier match during the September international break.
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The 27-year-old Manchester United player had started the 2-0 win over Andorra at Villa Park last week and he was subbed off in the second half for Anthony Gordon.
Speaking after England’s 5-0 demolition of Serbia on Tuesday, Ian Wright praised Rashford for his willingness to provide an attacking dynamic for the Three Lions.
Marcus Rashford has now scored more goals for England (18) than David Beckham (17). Harry Kane is the only England player in the current squad with more international goals than him.
A fit and firing Marcus Rashford would be massive for England in the summer. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Y90hlLCnrJ
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) September 9, 2025
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“You know what I do like with Marcus? Whatever we say about him is that when he comes on, he gets the ball, he’s trying to go at you,” he said on ITV.
“He’ll try and cut in. He’ll try and have a shot. He will try. He’s not coming on to just come and knock it sideways. He’ll come and have a go.
“And you know what? Maybe the luck will turn for him. He’ll get past people, get some of those shots, they’ll fly in and people will have a whole different narrative on him.
“But you just want to see him still doing the things what he does best, playing to his strengths.”
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Roy Keane sends a warning to England star Marcus Rashford after Ian Wright’s praise for the Barcelona and Man Utd player
Rashford came off the bench for England in the second half of Tuesday’s 5-0 steamrolling and replaced Anthony Gordon for the remainder of the match.
Roy Keane admitted that the England international will be able to walk away from the Rajko Mitic Stadium knowing the benefits of his performance on the night.
The 54-year-old United legend added that Rashford faces his biggest “challenge” at Barcelona and whether or not the Three Lions star will play regularly for the club.
“That goal will do him all the good,” Keane said.
“He knows the competition with England there. Now, whether he’ll get [a] regular run of games at Barcelona is another challenge for him.
“But he’d feel better for that. Definitely.”
Thomas Tuchel’s England side are top of Group K with 15 points from five World Cup qualifying matches and Albania are a distant second with eight points.