Man United's Rashford hopeful of Liverpool return after injury lay-off
Manchester United/X.com
The 29-year-old has been absent since suffering a setback with an injury that originally developed during the World Cup. The problem was aggravated during the opening weeks of the season and subsequently extended into his groin, forcing him to miss Manchester United's last six fixtures.
According to BBC Sport, Rashford travelled to Dublin last week to see a specialist, accompanied by a member of Manchester United's medical staff. Following the assessment, he has been placed on a new rehabilitation programme in an attempt to resolve the problem and get him back into contention.
The forward had been keen to return sooner and help United during a difficult period, but the injury was becoming increasingly troublesome. The club ultimately decided that attempting to bring him back prematurely could create a greater risk of further damage.
Rashford had even offered to make himself available as a substitute for last month's defeat against Chelsea, but United decided against taking that chance.
His absence has come at an especially difficult time for the club, who have struggled for consistency and are now facing a period of uncertainty following the dismissal of head coach Michael Carrick.
The Liverpool fixture at Anfield on 22 November is therefore an important potential return date, although Rashford's availability will depend on how he responds to the revised recovery programme.
Rashford returned to Manchester United in the summer following a season-long loan at Barcelona. However, he has yet to score since rejoining the club.
His previous record against Liverpool offers some encouragement ahead of the meeting between the rivals. The England international has scored seven goals in 20 appearances against them, making him one of United's more experienced attacking options for the fixture.
His possible return would provide the club with another forward option, particularly given the problems United have experienced in front of goal during the opening months of the campaign.
However, the immediate priority is ensuring that the injury has been properly resolved. Rashford's hip problem had worsened during the early part of the season and developed into a groin issue, making a cautious approach necessary.
The expectation is that he could be available for the Liverpool match, but that remains dependent on his progress over the coming days.
By then, United may also have a new manager in place. The club are expected to appoint Mauricio Pochettino following Carrick's dismissal, meaning the Anfield fixture could mark the beginning of another chapter for both the team and Rashford.
For the forward, however, the immediate objective is simply to return to full fitness after a frustrating spell on the sidelines.