Marcus Rashford started for England in their World Cup qualifier against Serbia at Wembley on Thursday evening, and the forward was backed to keep his place by Manchester United icon Roy Keane
Roy Keane looks on
Roy Keane has had his say on Marcus Rashford as the forward looks to nail down a starting spot for England
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Roy Keane has insisted that Marcus Rashford deserves to start for England ahead of Anthony Gordon, emphasising that opposition players "wouldn't want to face him".
Rashford had slipped down the Three Lions pecking order over recent years, with the Newcastle United winger overtaking him in the selection hierarchy.
However, following an impressive beginning to his loan spell at Spanish heavyweights Barcelona from Manchester United, the attacker has worked his way back into the England squad under Thomas Tuchel. It comes amid United being faced with a decision over his future this summer if Barca choose not to take up their option to buy him for around £28m.
Rashford was named in the starting line-up for his country's penultimate World Cup qualifier against Serbia at Wembley and delivered an encouraging performance on the left wing.
Former United midfielder Keane reckons Rashford's current form warrants keeping his place ahead of Newcastle's Gordon. Speaking on ITV Football, Keane said: "If you're comparing the two of them, Rashford and Gordon at their very best, I'm going for Rashford.
"He (Rashford) can still frustrate you, of course, but he's a threat and when he's on top form he is a handful. You wouldn't want to face him."
Speaking during the interval at Wembley, Keane added: "He's been busy [against Serbia], he's been lively, he's made a couple of runs but he's probably a little disappointed with his end product because he's in great form and doing really well at Barcelona.
"His movement off the ball... he looks confident. Nice link up play on the left-hand side [with Nico O'Reilly]. He's been a threat. But at the end of it, you want a bit more."
Marcus Rashford in action for England
Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford has been in good form so far this season
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Rashford's performance for England represented another standout display in what has proved to be an outstanding campaign for the forward. The 28-year-old has netted six times and provided nine assists across all competitions for Barcelona this season.
He will undoubtedly be keen to replicate that form on the international stage with England. Rashford's most recent goal for the Three Lions arrived in September during a commanding 5-0 victory over Serbia.
Discussing his team's most recent performance, manager Tuchel said: "Yes, I liked it. It was difficult – sometimes a bit too open, sometimes we had to defend with everything we had, sometimes we needed a bit of luck to force them to shoot wide.
"It is good if everything is not as easy - so we had to wait very long until the decisive goal. Then to make it safe. That is good for us - the effort was good. First half I was very happy with the first half. In the second half we didn't get the pressing always right.
"The game got a little too open because they escaped in a deep build-up against us and had fast attacks that we could completely control in the first half.
"Compliments to the back four. They had to work hard and be focused all the time. Serbia has individual qualities and is also a physical team. They came with a new energy, so well done."
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