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Marcus Rashford has been absent from Manchester United's last five fixtures, largely avoiding the scrutiny that has fallen on many of his teammates in recent weeks.
The 27-year-old forward hasn't featured since the 2–0 loss to Atlético Madrid on Oct. 13, a game in which he visibly struggled and was substituted after just 66 minutes.
Rashford, who had hopes of being reintegrated into the squad this season after his dream move to Barcelona on a permanent basis fell through — with the Spanish club opting to pursue Anthony Gordon as a more worthwhile signing — has yet to register a goal or assist since his return to the club.
However, his ongoing injury issues may shed light on why a player who contributed 28 goals and assists last season — largely in a supporting role — has struggled to make an impact as a regular starter, especially considering that goalscoring hasn't been the team's primary concern.
Rashford hasn't been fully fit since the World Cup, when he first picked up a hip problem. He was named in England's squad for the September-October international break but pulled out before joining up with the group. He managed just one minute as a substitute against Tottenham Hotspur when club football returned, before his 66-minute outing in Madrid.
With no additional appearances to his name, England head coach Thomas Tuchel unsurprisingly looked elsewhere when announcing his November squad last week.
What Injury Does Marcus Rashford Have?
Rashford's troubles are no longer limited to his hip, with the Telegraph reporting that the original problem has since extended to his groin — the latter being the primary reason for his continued absence.
In an attempt to address the issue head-on, he reportedly traveled to see a groin specialist in Dublin, accompanied by a member of Manchester United's medical staff.
Rashford is said to have "played through the pain" in order to provide greater support to Carrick, who never shut the door on him despite a mutual understanding that a permanent departure during the summer had been the player's preferred outcome.
This approach is believed to have aggravated the injury further. Rashford reportedly even offered to take a spot on the bench for the Halloween defeat to Chelsea, though the club turned down the offer.
When Will Marcus Rashford Return From Injury?
The visit to Ireland has resulted in a "new recovery program" now being implemented. While nothing is guaranteed, there is optimism that Rashford could be fit in time for the first game following the international break on Nov. 22 — a massive clash against Liverpool at Anfield.
It would be the perfect stage for a homegrown United player to make his mark. Rashford has a strong record against Liverpool, most notably netting in FA Cup victories in 2021 and 2024, as well as scoring the decisive goal in a Premier League encounter in 2022.
He also helped United earn a share of the spoils with a goal in a 1–1 draw in 2019 and bagged a brace in a 2–1 win as a 20-year-old back in 2018.
Following the Liverpool fixture, the Red Devils travel to Lisbon to face Sporting CP in the Champions League on Nov. 25, before hosting Brentford at Old Trafford on Nov. 28.