Marcus Rashford is no longer a guaranteed starter for England following his struggles at Manchester United this season.
That’s according to former Three Lions and Arsenal defender Martin Keown, who also felt it was harsh Phil Foden didn’t get the nod over Jesse Lingard in their World Cup qualifying opener.
The Three Lions got their campaign off to a perfect start with a 5-0 victory over San Marino on Thursday night.
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The likes of Harry Kane and Harry Maguire were given the evening off as some of the fringe players got their chance.
There were impressive performances by players like Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who scored twice, James Ward-Prowse, who also found the net, and Jesse Lingard who was praised for another sparkling performance in midfield.
Competition for a starting place in the England team is fierce and Arsenal legend Keown thinks it might be difficult for Rashford to be considered as a guaranteed starter ahead of Euro 2020 this summer.
The Man United forward missed his last club game due to a foot injury, but still joined up with the national side.
He was not ready to face San Marino and it is unclear whether or not he will feature against either Albania or Poland.
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“I think it’s getting more difficult for him, I don’t think he’s having the best of seasons at Manchester United, but I think he’ll respond. I expect him to respond,” Keown told talkSPORT host Jim White.
“It’s about development of your players. I watched Wales play the other night and was disappointed with [Daniel] James from Manchester United.
“I looked at him and thought his running ability off the ball and closing down was amazing, then his decision-making in the final third – I thought when he went to Man United that would improve under the new manager, but I didn’t see it.
“Sometimes with Rashford I feel the same way. It’s about what is happening at your club.
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“I look at [Phil] Foden and he’s developing incredibly well. [Mason] Mount as well is developing and I think [Jesse] Lingard is inspired at the moment. He looks like someone who has been given a second chance and on the back of that England can cash-in.
“It does create real competition from places, not least of all at full-back. We haven’t seen Luke Shaw last night and who are going to be the central defenders? Harry Maguire getting a nice rest. Harry Kane got a rest.
“It was weak opposition, but it does give Gareth Southgate time to make sure we are prepared.
“We go to tournaments and we, the English players, are tired and no one has saved anything in the tank. Hopefully this season it won’t happen.”
Man City midfielder Foden has been impressive in the Premier League all season and staked his claim for a starting place in the England team during the last international break.
But he was dropped to the bench against San Marino, with Lingard starting in midfield instead after his superb return to form at West Ham.
He maintained his form in his first England appearance since 2019 with a commanding performance but, despite how well Lingard played, Keown believes Foden should be ahead of him.
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“I was a little bit surprised Foden didn’t start the game last night as well as Lingard did, we have to have a process,” added the former England and Arsenal centre-back.
“If we go back to the last international game in November, we beat Iceland 4-0 and Foden that night scored a couple of goals.
“He started on the right and he didn’t start last night.
“Is he now going to start in the game at the weekend? What is the first choice because we are moving towards that.
“I thought Foden was a bit unlucky really. Lingard, as well as he’s done, has only played seven games for West Ham and has now burst that door open and come flying through it.
“There’s Maddison, Mount, and we are becoming more technical now. Lingard is a player who is a free runner with tremendous energy bursting from midfielder, which the others maybe haven’t got.
“He does his best work off the ball, arriving late in that box. If we’re going to go a more footballistic approach with Mount, I think that’s the way forward.
“Then the likes of Rashford start coming under pressure.”
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