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“What is in your head”- Ex-PL ace tells Rashford to choose between becoming a footballer or a politician

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed that Marcus Rashford is nearing a return to action and is raring to go.
Marcus Rashford is yet to return from his injury. (imago Images)

Paul Parker urges Manchester United ace Marcus Rashford to start paying attention on the pitch 

Speaking to Betfred, as quoted by The Express, Paul Parker has urged Manchester United ace Marcus Rashford to decide whether he is a politician or a footballer amidst poor performances.

The 24-year-old missed the start of the season for the Red Devils due to a shoulder injury. However, he quickly recovered and was fit to play after the international break in October. In fact, he also scored against Leicester City and Villarreal before finding the back of the net against Tottenham Hotspur. But the centre-forward has not scored since then.

His recent downturn in form has put a lot of the goalscoring load on the shoulders of Cristiano Ronaldo. Although the Portuguese has continued to maintain his form, the ex-Premier League ace has demanded more from Rashford.

Marcus Rashford has not scored for Manchester United since late October.
Marcus Rashford has not scored for Manchester United since late October. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

The Englishman has done a lot for the community recently but Parker has now urged the winger to decide whether he is a politician or a footballer.

“He (Rashford) should be sitting down somewhere and asking what does he want to be; a footballer or a politician? And then go from there, and he grabs hold of it and becomes what he is supposed to be.

“I do not think it is anything to do with fitness. Everything about them is fine… I just think it is about what is in your head now. Does he want to play for the biggest club in the world regularly, or does he want to watch them? At the moment, he is playing like someone who is trying his best to watch them play, but he keeps on getting picked.”

Rashford needs to step up

The English international received an MBE this year for his support to vulnerable children. There is no arguing that he should continue to help society and there is almost nothing to suggest that his off-field work impacts his game at Man United.

The English international looks slightly off the paces, with his swanky chops and turns on the ball a distant memory. He has played a lot of football in the past five years but this is his age to kick on and become a talisman for his boyhood club. Ronaldo can only do so much, but he needs a partner upfront.

Paul Parker has urged Marcus Rashford to step up for Manchester United.
Paul Parker has urged Marcus Rashford to step up for Manchester United. Copyright: Jon super/Shutterstock 11769795l

Edinson Cavani has not helped with his inconsistencies, nor has Anthony Martial, who looks to be heading for an exit. Mason Greenwood, too, has been kept out of the squad due to the brilliance of Jadon Sancho. In such a scenario, Rashford needs to do more and produce dazzling displays from the left wing, but Parker’s comments don’t make a lot of sense in that regard.

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As long as he is training with the first team, reporting to Carrington on time, and not making himself unavailable for games due to doing non-football things off the pitch, one wonders how his act of helping society has any effect on his football playing abilities at all. Footballers have a life outside the field as well and it’s on them to choose how they want to spend the time.

He has the knack of scoring goals and the potency to do so week after week. Rangnick might manage his game-time during the hectic fixture schedule in the coming months, but the 24-year-old will have to hold up his end of the bargain when he is brought on to the pitch to make a difference and shut down critics that target him for letting charitable activities somehow affect his playing ability.

Written by Varun Pai

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