England manager Gareth Southgate has said Manchester United players who are not in the national team have “a lot to do” to return as part of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
With defender Luke Shaw out injured, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho were left out due to poor form, leaving Harry Maguire as the only United player in the squad for their Nations League tie against Barcelona. Hungary on Tuesday.
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Rashford and Sancho have been out of favor since England lost to Italy in the Euro 2020 final last year, but Southgate said last month they still had enough club games left to play. show their quality and change their minds before the World Cup in November.
Both forwards were absent from United’s last three Premier League games this season as the club finished sixth, missing out on Champions League qualification.
Asked if United players would be fresher in the coming season without Champions League football, Southgate told reporters: “We only have one with us. They have a lot to do to get back into the team.
“I think the lower the load, of course, the less risk of injury and hopefully the players can be a bit more lively, but there’s no way of knowing. Some players are at their best when in game rhythm.”
Rashford scored just four goals in 24 Premier League games last season as he was hampered by injuries and poor form, while Sancho scored just three league goals in his first season at United .