The Rashford dilemma: how will Southgate solve selection headache?

In Gareth Southgate’s own words, Jadon Sancho did not deserve an England call-up for last October’s World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Hungary and yet the manager selected him regardless.

Sancho was enduring a difficult time at Manchester United after his £73m transfer from Borussia Dortmund and, given his form, he ought not to have been included. But Southgate had invested in the winger, who he believes can get to the very top, and he decided “for him to feel we have belief in him at this point is a good message”.

Sancho’s previous action for England had been to miss one of the penalties in the Euro 2020 final shootout loss to Italy in July – he was injured for the September fixtures – and Southgate wanted to get him back in the shirt, partly to begin the healing process. Sancho would get two assists in the 5-0 win over Andorra.

Things would get worse for Sancho before they got better. His performances for United did not improve in time for the November internationals and Southgate dropped him, saying that he could not support him for ever. But Sancho has since turned it around at United, playing some strong games, and Southgate is expected to recall him on Thursday for this month’s Wembley friendlies against Switzerland and Ivory Coast.

The reason for bringing up the Sancho situation is because it has direct relevance to Southgate’s biggest selection dilemma: whether to call up Marcus Rashford.

The parallels are clear. Rashford is enduring a torrid time at United and, given his form, does not merit being selected. The forward has been so frustrated by his lack of minutes under the club’s interim manager, Ralf Rangnick, that he has given thought to leaving Old Trafford. Rangnick’s response? “Even suppose he and