Marcus Rashford hints he’d have chosen surgery over Euro 2020 if he knew he wouldn’t play a big role

Marcus Rashford has hinted that he may have chosen to get his shoulder surgery instead of going to Euro 2020 with England had he known he ‘wouldn’t play a significant role’ for the Three Lions.  

In a lengthy social media post on Friday, the Manchester United forward responded to those who have called him ‘selfish’ for choosing to join Gareth Southgate’s squad and delaying his operation, which means he will miss the start of the new  season.  

Rashford is optimistic he will play again before the end of October but could miss United’s first 11 games of the season in the Premier League and Champions League, as well as England next five World Cup qualifiers. 

The Manchester United forward, 23, saw little action for Gareth Southgate (left) at Euro 2020

The decision to have an operation was made following talks between Rashford and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer this week before the player was due to report back for pre-season training on Sunday. 

Rashford admitted that he weighed up whether or not to go to the Euros, but insisted that ‘no one would ever turn down’ the chance to represent England ‘at such a big tournament’.

But in a telling statement, the 23-year-old wrote on Friday: ‘On hindsight, if I had of known (sic) I wouldn’t have played a significant role in the Euros, would I have gone? Hindsight is a wonderful thing isn’t it…’

‘I didn’t want to let anyone down but ultimately looking at some of my performances towards the end of last season I felt like I was.’

Rashford (left) agreed with boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (right) to have the operation next week

Rashford managed just 84 minutes of football in the whole of Euro 2020, not scoring a goal and being one of three England players to miss a penalty in the final against Italy.  

The United forward came under fire for his club form in the second half of last season, where he scored just four goals in his last 22 league appearances. 

As part of his post, he explained his love for and loyalty to United, who he said he has always tried to help ‘even to my detriment at times’.

Rashford was one of three England players to miss a penalty in the Euro 2020 final versus Italy

Rashford revealed the toll that suffering a double-stress fracture in his back in January 2020 took on him – when he spent five months on the sidelines in recovery – and how that led to his desire to continue playing through the pain of his recent shoulder injury, which he picked up in November last year. 

‘Having spent a lot of time away from team-mates and staff who’d been a part of my life for as long as I could remember, I needed to feel a part of something again,’ he wrote. 

When the England call-up came, Rashford said he felt he would be fine to join the tournament squad.

Rashford suffered a double-stress fracture in his back against Wolves in January 2020

‘I had been deemed fit for the full season, and given my injuries were being managed, what was another couple of weeks?’ he wrote in his post explaining his decision.   

Rashford had a scan on the shoulder in Liverpool a fortnight ago which revealed that the muscle tear is unlikely to get any worse.

However, he wanted the problem cured once and for all after requiring painkilling injections to play last season.

He concluded by saying he is ‘walking away with lessons learnt’ from his experience.

‘We live and learn as they say but what is never in doubt is my commitment to the club and the national team,’ he wrote.