'He can't keep doing this' - Former England captain delivers strong verdict on Man Utd star Marcus Rashford

Alan Shearer believes ‘something is clearly wrong’ after Manchester United star Marcus Rashford hit the headlines for the wrong reasons once again.

The Red Devils academy graduate was left out of the United squad for Sunday’s FA Cup fourth round win at League Two club Newport County with what was described as an illness. That decision comes just days after the England forward was pictured in a nightclub in Northern Ireland and was said to be too ill to train ahead of the trip to Rodney Parade.

It is not the first time in recent months Rashford’s off-field conduct has provoked questions after he was seen in a Manchester nightclub following his side’s 3-0 defeat against local rivals Manchester City in November. Rashford was also disciplined by manager Erik ten Hag and dropped to the bench for a win against Wolves last season after missing a team meeting ahead of the game.

Former Newcastle United and England captain Shearer has insisted the 26-year-old will need ‘strong management’ in order to move on from his latest off-field issue - and warned he could end his career with serious regrets unless there is an improvement.

“There is huge talent in there with Marcus Rashford,” he told BBC Sport.

“We saw him disciplined last season when he was late for a meeting, he actually missed a game. But something is clearly wrong, either at home or with his relationship with the football club because he can’t keep doing this. He can’t waste his talent, it’s not right. He needs strong management, someone to get hold of him and say, you know, you get to the end of your career and you have huge regrets. You can’t have that, you don’t need that.”

Former Man City defender Micah Richards believes dealing with further off-field issues is hampering Ten Hag’s attempts to bring further success to United and stressed that it had ‘not been good enough’ from the Red Devils squad since the former Ajax manager was appointed at Old Trafford during the summer of 2022.

He said: “It’s causing more problems. They are supposed to come to the game today and focus on what they need to do. Now we are having to ask what is happening off the pitch and it’s just not been good enough from the whole squad since Ten Hag came to the club.”