Erik ten Hag gives Marcus Rashford injury update ahead of Man Utd vs Chelsea

The Manchester United manager was asked whether the club’s top scorer will return on Thursday.
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Erik ten Hag has said he expects Marcus Rashford to be available for Manchester United’s Premier League game against Chelsea on Thursday.

The attacker missed the recent win over Wolverhampton Wanderers with a knock and was expected to be involved in the squad that travelled to Bournemouth last weekend. However, illness prevented Rashford playing any part at the Vitality, as the Red Devils recorded a 1-0 victory.

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The England international was pictured back in training on Tuesday and United supporters are hoping the 25-year-old will be back in times for the home encounter against Chelsea. However, Ten Hag said he will have to make a late decision on Rashford’s availability.

“It looks like [he will be available], but yesterday he returns in training and he looks quite fit but we have to see today what the outcome is from the training - how did he recover and then we will make our choices,” the United boss said in Wednesday’s pre-match press conference.

Should Rashford make the squad, it would mean United’s only absentees for the Chelsea match would be Lisandro Martinez and Donny van de Beek, both of whom are out for the remainder of the campaign with long-term injuries.

Ten Hag has started with a front three of Antony, Anthony Martial and Jadon Sancho in the last two games, although the trio have lacked goals and assists in recent weeks, while United as a team have struggled to find the back of the net and have scored just six in their last eight matches.

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The return of the Red Devils’ no.10 could, therefore, be key as he is the club’s top scorer this season with 29 goals in all competitions.

Meanwhile, as long as United avoid defeat against Chelsea they will secure a top-four finish and Champions League football for next season. Asked about the importance of playing in Europe’s elite competition, Ten Hag said: “We want to compete with the best, then you have to be in the Champions League.

“In the Premier League, you have to be one of the first four. That's not easy, many are competing for it, many think they should be in and we are one of them."