Marcus Rashford responds to claims he does not fit into Ruben Amorim’s new Man United tactics… before addressing his England exile and his dreams of playing for the Three Lions once more

Marcus Rashford has explained how he plans to fit into Ruben Amorim’s system at Manchester United in a bombshell interview which also saw the star express his desire to make a sensational comeback into the England national team.

The forward became a Red Devils icon after rising up through the youth ranks in 2016 before reaching double figures of league goals in three consecutive seasons and gaining plaudits off the field with his charity work.

While turning out regularly for England, Rashford also scooped up two FA Cups, two League Cups and a Europa League trophy at the club. 

The United man has struggled of late, however, scoring just four times in 15 Premier League appearances this season, assisting once, as the Red Devils have slumped into the lower half of the table.

Things came to a head last weekend when Rashford was surprisingly left out of the squad for the Manchester derby by new manager Ruben Amorim, leading to suggestions that he might be on his way out.

Now the Englishman has explained why he has been struggling to fit into the Portuguese’s new 3-4-2-1 formation and shed light on his future at the club, in an interview with journalist Henry Winter, where he handed out 420 presents to children. 

He said: ‘I have traits to play in all three positions. Some positions are more natural to me, some positions I have to train more and do a bit more tactical (work). The left side suits me the best.’

Amorim plays with two no 10s behind the striker, leaving Rashford unable to settle into his favoured position as a left winger or a left inside-forward. 

‘The left 10 still suits me but you have to adapt your game,’ he added. ‘The biggest skill-set is adaptability. People might not see it but eventually they’ll see I’ve played in plenty of different positions under all the managers.’ 

Rashford’s future at Old Trafford looks up in the air with Mail Sport exclusively revealing last week that club chiefs would listen to offers of £40milllion for the forward in a bid to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

This was exacerbated by his brutal snub for Sunday’s huge match and subsequent disquiet around the United camp around a potential leaker of teamsheets, the perpetrator of which yet to have been found.

Rashford all but confirmed his impending departure in his candid interview with Winter, conceding he wants a ‘new challenge’ and speaking about leaving as a ‘when’, not an ‘if’. 

A move would likely increase the forward’s game time, a development vital to his future consideration for the Three Lions under new boss Thomas Tuchel. 

The German’s arrival could lead to a recall as early as March in the first international break of next year, giving Rashford the chance to potentially add to his 60 England caps.

A source told The Sun last month: ‘Tuchel contacted Marcus and his representatives and told them he saw Marcus as an essential part of the England squad. He said he believed a big part of England’s failure to win Euro 2024 was not having Marcus as an option.

‘Other teams fear his abilities and Tuchel said he believed without Rashford, England didn’t offer a strong attacking threat on the left and that made them easier to play against as a lot of the ball came down the right.’

And Rashford has now expressed a firm desire to get back into the national team setup and reignite his career on the international stage. 

‘That still excites me,’ he told Winter. ‘It’s playing for your country in the biggest competition in the world. I’ve had the chance to do it before (Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022) and it’s an unbelievable experience. 

‘If I got the opportunity again, I’ll try and grab it with both hands.’

England’s next fixtures are World Cup qualifiers against Latvia and Albania in March and where Rashford calls home at that point, as well as his Three Lions prospects, are anybody’s guess.