:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66343744/1199751790.jpg.0.jpg)
During his pre-match press conference held before today’s Europa League match against Club Brugge, Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer updated everyone on the status of injured striker Marcus Rashford. Unfortunately, it wasn’t good news.
Originally diagnosed with a double back fracture, United were hopeful that Rashford would be back in a “few weeks” but that timeline got extended after scans revealed his back wasn’t healing as fast as it should.
Solskjaer has confirmed that Rashford will be out “for another few months” with the back injury that now jeopardizes his chances of playing for England at Euro 2020.
“I would hope he’s playing this season but it will just be touch and go towards the end, hopefully, we get through this tournament and prolong the season. It takes time.
“I’m not a doctor but I was hoping he would recover quicker. It actually looks like he’s going to be out for another few months definitely.”
Asked about Euro 2020, Solskjaer added:
“Well, I would hope he plays before then but if he’s not fit enough he won’t go. He had a scan and it was maybe more severe, that fracture than what we hoped for and expected. He felt fine the few days before that.
“I’ve never done anatomy in school so I didn’t know it takes that time to recover, but when it heals he’ll be stronger for it – it’s important we won’t rush him.”
It appears that January’s transfer signing Odion Ighalo will be playing more of a critical role than originally thought when the striker signed his loan deal on deadline day. Solskjaer is considering giving the Nigerian his full debut in Belgium after seeing him settle in well at the club.
“Odion is a different type of striker for us. He’s a box striker, a goal scorer. We’ve seen him training and he knows his craft, how to train as a center-forward. He’s a fantastic professional and human being and already added to the squad.
“The boys have taken to him. I hope he’s going to sharpen up quickly. He’s been out of season and needs to do a little bit extra after training. We try to give him as much game time as possible. He had a good chance at Chelsea but I’m sure he will take his chances.”
Lineups have not been yet been set, so it will be interesting to see if Ighalo does in fact get his first start for United this evening. Regardless, it sounds like he will be playing a lot when he is fit.