England manager Southgate backs Mourinho's decision of playing Rashford wide

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Bengaluru, August 27: England coach Gareth Southgate has encouraged Marcus Rashford not to be flustered by the arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Manchester United and advised the teenager to seize the wide role under Jose Mourinho.

Rashford started his career as a number nine under LVG but since Mourinho's taken charge, he is been often deployed in the wider role. Last season he played both on the left and right wing continuously but after Zlatan's injury, he was again called back in the central striker role.

The English international has this season started both of United's Premier League games as a left winger and has performed well but has scored only once.

Many people raised their voice against playing him out wide and were concerned after Zlatan and Lukaku's arrival, that wide position could be his permanent position.

However, the Three Lions manager Southgate has now come to the support of him starting him on the wide role as he suggested he has to grow playing in different positions.

“I think his performances at the beginning of the season from the left have been excellent,” Southgate said at his press conference. “I was at the game with West Ham [which United won 4-0] and he was fabulous in that game, and just needed the finishing touch. He walked off to a standing ovation.”

“Yes there is talk, is he a 9, but more of his first team football has been as an 11,” Southgate explained.

“As a young player nailing down a definitive position is less important than being selected in the team and Jose clearly trusts him to play. Whether he is 7, 11, 10, 9 is less important. The opportunity to play and play in big matches like he did last year in the Europa League final and things like that is more important at this stage.”

Rashford held his place in Southgate's England squad for the Malta and Slovakia matches and he suggested the youngster will only get better from now on.

“He is stronger for the summer when he had a little bit more of a break than he might have done,” Southgate said. “He used that productively. He is a really exciting player and he is only going to get stronger.”

Rashford scored his first goal of the season against Leicester City on Saturday (August 26) as he broke Foxes' resistence with a superb finish to win the game from an excellent delivery from Mkhitaryan.