Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has been a must start for the Red Devils this season. Could this come at a cost?
He has played 43 games for the club to date, plus a further four at the World Cup with England to make it 47.
The Times journalist Henry Winter has warned that Rashford could end the season playing a staggering 72 games for club and country.
Rashford could reach this number if he plays every game for Manchester United and England, if the Red Devils reach the FA Cup and Europa League finals, while international games run into mid-June.
READ: Confirmed Manchester United transfers in, out, loan deals for January 2023
Rashford fears voiced
At some point Rashford will get a rest, you would think. Gareth Southgate might not even pick him to start for England.
But even at a conservative estimate, Rashford is on course to surpass 60 games in a single season.
Winter’s concern is made from a wider point about football’s crazy schedule. A 48-team World Cup was announced this week, while an expanded Champions League is also being planned.
From a Manchester United perspective, the schedule has been ridiculous. Competing in four competitions with a World Cup jammed in, has led to the club playing twice a week all season.
We have seen the signs of fatigue start to catch up with the players, and Rashford’s incredible performance levels have dipped a little over the past fortnight.
United need to look at providing extra depth up front next season to ensure less of a reliance on Rashford, also noting what happened the last time he played so frequently.
This was in the lockdown season, and the following year, injuries began to build, leading to Rashford losing form totally in 2021/22.
He has rebuilt and come back stronger than ever, but if he does not get a rest, then there is a risk the cycle starts all over again.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
