Marcus Rashford England Snub is Deserved, But Naive From Southgate!

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Earlier today England's 33-man provisional squad was released with some very notable absentees, chief among them being Marcus Rashford. While Rashford and Southgate haven't always had a smooth relationship, he has featured consistently for the national team, which makes this a bit of a shock.

However, Rashford's form this season hasn't warranted a call-up. (Not that Southgate picks players based on form anyway). It would have been difficult to justify selecting him having had such a torrid season. 7 goals and 2 assists in 33 appearances is terrible, unlike the impressive heights he clocked last season in Ten Hags' inaugural season.

Inexplicably, while Rashford was in this hot vein of form, Southgate started him on the bench during the World Cup, often using him as an impact player rather than the main man. Still, he scored 3 goals in 5 appearances and should have had more if he had been given more minutes.

You see, Rashford has always been a big-game player. It is the one quality that you can always count on. His ability to get behind a defense with his pace and score can't really be matched by his replacements. Gordon is the only player that comes close.

Gordon (23) has emerged this season as one of the best left-wingers in the league and is deservedly on the team. He could be the wildcard, the unknown quantity that makes the England squad difficult to cope with. With only 85 minutes under his belt for England, many managers won't know what to expect from Gordon on the national stage and Southgate might end up looking like a genius.

However, that lack of experience in a massive competition like the Euros, under the harsh Sauron-ic gaze of the English press, may be exactly what crushes young Anthony Gordon. He will have nowhere to hide. Rashford won't be there to take the load off his shoulders thanks to Southgate.

As a Manchester United fan though, I can't complain much. Rashford has needed, no, deserved this break for the longest time. Too many times has he been asked to carry the club on his back. Too many times has he been forced to play through injury, as the striker, as the right-winger because there was literally nobody else.

He now has all the time in the world to get fit and prepare for next season, hopefully with better, more settled players around him. Ten Hag will be silently thanking the gods for this gift - that is if he is still here next season.