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England head coach Thomas Tuchel has a ploy to prove Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim wrong about on-loan Aston Villa forward Marcus Rashford.
In a quite remarkable turn of events, Marcus Rashford is back in the England squad just two months after being completely outcast Manchester United.
Ruben Amorim had banished Rashford from first team contention at Old Trafford before the versatile attacker eventually left on Deadline Day, signing for Aston Villa on a six-month loan deal with an option to buy for £40 million.
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There were approaches from the likes of Barcelona, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund but Rashford couldn’t have made a better choice, it appears. Joining up with Unai Emery has been an absolute blessing for the attacker, who is finally falling back in love with football again. Amorim often claimed Rashford had an unacceptable work rate but he’s shown anything but a poor attitude at Villa Park.
A few eyebrows were raised when new England boss Thomas Tuchel named Rashford - alongside a few other surprise names - in his maiden squad. But with all factors considered, it’s probably a warranted inclusion and Tuchel could well have a cheeky trick up his sleeve.
How could Tuchel utilise Rashford for England?
Thomas Tuchel can make Ruben Amorim look silly by using Marcus Rashford in a certain wayThomas Tuchel can make Ruben Amorim look silly by using Marcus Rashford in a certain way
Thomas Tuchel can make Ruben Amorim look silly by using Marcus Rashford in a certain way | Getty Images
As much as Rashford is bang back on form, it’s unlikely he’ll get the nod to start either of the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Albania and Latvia. That doesn’t mean he can’t have an impact, though, with Tuchel bound to deploy the 27-year-old.
One approach could be to use him as a super substitute if the likes of Anthony Gordon, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden - the most probable starters - aren’t firing. If Wembley is growing frustrated by a lack of tempo and urgency, there aren’t many better players to add some attacking impetus than Rashford.
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Tuchel faced plenty of questions from the media following his maiden squad selection and looked delighted to be asked about Rashford, whom he’s particularly excited to work with. Not only can he get involved with attacks, but he can also be of great use to see out a lead with his defensive work rate shining through.
“I had the feeling that we need to reward him now, we need to feel him, he needs to be close to me, that he does not fall back into old routines,” Tuchel said.
“He has stepped up his game impressively against the ball. This is the most important point for him – the intensity after ball loss. The tracking back on the side. The sprinting. The hunting down. Making sure you’re in position.
“That he can bully defenders, we know all that. We forgot a little bit about it but we know it. He is a complete package. But at the same time, we want to make sure that he stays on track.”
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Although Rashford has shone as a striker in the past, it sounds like Tuchel is planning on stationing him out on the left flank where he can cut inside and cause problems for defenders. If Tino Livramento or Myles Lewis-Skelly start at left-back, Rashford could invert to create an overload in attacking midfield.
Rashford has point to prove
It can’t be easy to feel like the footballing world is on your case all time. Rashford’s performances certainly weren’t good enough at United but the ruthless treatment from Amorim and some of the media surely didn’t help. He’s out of that situation now, though, and has a great opportunity to prove the critics wrong.
If Tuchel can get the best out of Rashford just as Emery has so far, England’s attack could become even more clinical that it already is. It’s certainly an exciting prospect and Amorim could be made to look rather silly if it becomes a reality.