Rashford Managing Hip Injury Throughout Season, Impacting Manchester United Performances
The England star has been undergoing regular treatment, affecting his availability and form.
Marcus Rashford has been receiving consistent treatment throughout the current season to manage a hip injury that has impacted his performances for Manchester United. The 28-year-old forward has started six of the team's nine matches this season since returning to Old Trafford.
Rashford has yet to score or provide an assist this season. He missed a scoring opportunity during the team's recent Champions League loss to Atletico Madrid. Sources indicate that the injury has required ongoing management to ensure his availability for head coach Michael Carrick, and this has inevitably affected his on-field contributions.
It is uncertain whether Rashford, who withdrew from England's recent Nations League fixtures, will be available for the upcoming match against Leeds United. His absence or reduced capacity has created opportunities for other players, with Matheus Cunha able to shift to the left flank following Amad Diallo's return from injury, which allowed Bryan Mbeumo to play in a central role.
Carrick acknowledged Rashford's situation, stating, "He's not quite getting that little bit of a break, putting himself in good positions and having some opportunities. He had one the other night maybe that he felt he probably could have done better with, but he's in there to make a difference." He added, "He keeps doing the right things, and you get the rewards in the end. So as long as he keeps doing that, he'll be okay."
Bruno Fernandes has also been managing an undisclosed injury that led him to miss a match for Portugal during the international break and has appeared to affect his recent play for United. Carrick, however, stated that this was not the reason Fernandes was substituted in the 80th minute against Atletico Madrid. "He's been carrying some sort of issue, but he's pretty much over that now, to be honest, and he'll be back to his best," Carrick said.
Carrick emphasized that many players manage injuries that go unnoticed. "A lot of players do carry them and it goes under the radar. People just think everyone's 100 per cent fully fit and it's probably not very often the case," he noted. He also highlighted the importance of shared responsibility within the team, stating, "We've got to share the load in all sorts of different ways: that's working, quality-wise, performing, being available."
"It's not an individual thing. When it's all good, it's not always just Bruno. Certainly if it's not so good, it's not all Bruno. He's a fantastic footballer, and he has a big impact on our group," Carrick added. "Just because he may not be hitting the headlines or the highlights like he did last year doesn't mean that he can't, and that he won't, and I'm sure he'll do that pretty quickly."