Marcus Rashford has publicly responded to the latest debate surrounding his Manchester United future after Jamie Carragher defended the forward during a discussion with Gary Neville.
Rashford has returned to Michael Carrick’s first-team squad this summer after spending the previous 18 months away from Old Trafford on loan at Aston Villa and Barcelona.
His unexpected comeback has generated plenty of debate ahead of Saturday’s Premier League opener against Hull City.
According to the Mirror, Rashford has now taken to social media to thank Carragher for sticking up for him during a discussion involving former United captain Neville.
The interaction is another indication that Rashford is closely following the conversation around his return to the club.
Marcus Rashford responds amid Man Utd second chance
Rashford’s position at United has changed considerably over the past few weeks.
Rather than being kept away from Carrick’s plans while waiting for another transfer, the England forward has returned to training and featured from the bench against AC Milan in United’s final pre-season friendly.
There is now a realistic possibility that he features at Hull.
ReadManUtd has already examined the selection decision Carrick faces over Rashford, with Matheus Cunha, Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo providing significant competition across the attack.
Rashford’s return has also prompted strong opinions from former United players.
Wayne Rooney challenged the forward to improve his work rate and body language but still believes Rashford possesses enough ability to challenge his Manchester United goalscoring record.
The latest Neville-Carragher discussion adds another layer to that debate.
Rashford publicly acknowledging Carragher’s defence does not resolve the uncertainty surrounding his long-term future, but it shows the forward is aware of what is being said as he attempts to rebuild his position at Old Trafford.
Ultimately, his response on the pitch will carry considerably more weight.
Saturday at Hull could provide his first competitive opportunity to make one.
