England's Rashford faces injury doubt as Carrick offers no clarity

At Craven Cottage on Sunday, Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford limped off in the second half, his exit sparking fresh worries for England ahead of their Nations League opener. The 28‑year‑old was replaced by Joshua Zirkzee after a slip, leaving manager Michael Carrick unable to confirm the severity of any injury.

England’s Nations League outlook

Thomas Tuchel announced a 27‑man squad on Friday for the fixtures against Spain, Czechia and Croatia. Marcus Rashford was among those named after a bright start to the season, but his recent forced exit has turned him into a doubt for the Three Lions. The uncertainty arrives less than a week before England’s first Nations League game since the World Cup.

When ’s Alex Crook asked Michael Carrick about Rashford’s fitness, the former midfielder replied, “I really don’t know. As you can imagine, at the end of the game I’ve spoken to the players and not really got to that stage. So we’ll just have to wait and see.” (Getty)

England are set to face Spain at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, 26 September, kicking off their campaign. Carrick admitted he cannot confirm the injury’s extent, leaving the national team staff to monitor the situation closely.

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Rashford featured six times for the Three Lions at the World Cup, scoring once and providing an assist as Tuchel’s side finished third – their best performance since 1966. Those contributions underline why his potential absence is a blow to England’s attacking options.

United’s season snapshot

Since returning from loan spells with Aston Villa and Barcelona, the 28‑year‑old has made six appearances in all competitions for Manchester United this season. He has featured in every Premier League match this term, starting the last four, yet has not recorded a goal or an assist. His involvement has been regular, but the lack of direct contributions has drawn criticism.

On Sunday at Craven Cottage, United were held to a 1‑1 draw with Fulham. Marcus Rashford was replaced by Joshua Zirkzee in the 77th minute after slipping, and Matheus Cunha’s equaliser erased an own goal from Lisandro Martinez. The point was salvaged late, but the match highlighted United’s defensive vulnerabilities and left the club 12th in the table.