Marcus Rashford: England boss Gareth Southgate plans talks with Man Utd striker

Gareth Southgate plans to meet with Marcus Rashford after leaving the Manchester United striker out of his latest England squad.

Rashford, without a goal since 22 January, has been omitted for the friendlies with Switzerland and Ivory Coast at Wembley later this month.

«I think it is important, perhaps after this camp, for me to go and sit with him and find out a bit more about what is going on,» said Southgate.

«We know he is desperate to do well.»

Rashford, 24, has scored just five goals in 26 appearances in a struggling United side this season.

Earlier this week, a video on social media appeared to show the player responding angrily to fans following United's exit from the Champions League after a home defeat to Atletico Madrid.

Rashford denied making a rude gesture to fans with his hands.

«I think Marcus is very realistic,» added Southgate.

«He knows he is in a situation where he has not been getting in the United team consistently and he will be searching as much as anybody to get that form back.»

Southgate is convinced Rashford, who has scored 59 goals and provided 32 assists in 198 Premier League appearances, will return to the form that saw him make his England debut at the age of 18 in 2016.

«We all believe he can be an asset for his club and for his country,» said Southgate.

«With one or two of our players in the past, who have had dips and come through them, you can say, 'look, they came through that, they responded well and became more strong and they showed the character needed'.

»That is what he is going to have to prove now in the coming weeks and months. Nobody's career goes smoothly from start to finish and of course his rise from when he first broke into the team at United was incredible, really."

Speaking to BBC