Former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke has called on manager Michael Carrick to arrange a personal meeting with Marcus Rashford at the player's home, insisting the 28-year-old forward could be the difference in winning the Premier League this season.
Yorke's plea for reintegration
Speaking to sports betting website BOYLE Sports, Yorke said: "Now I know not everyone will agree but if I was Carrick, the first person I would be going and seeing to have a conversation is Marcus Rashford." He added: "You're the manager. You figure it out with him. You make the decisions. You're not there to please people."
Rashford, who joined Manchester United at age seven, spent last season on loan at Barcelona after a fallout with former United boss Ruben Amorim. He helped Barcelona win La Liga, but the club opted not to trigger his buyout clause, leaving his future uncertain. United's preference is to offload the England star, but he is set to return to Carrington after his summer break.
Risk and reward
Yorke, who scored 65 goals in 125 appearances for United and was recently sacked as manager of Trinidad and Tobago, stressed the importance of Carrick making his own decisions. "In my time as a manager, I have learned that if you're going to get sacked, get sacked doing it your way," he said. "Do not get caught up in the outside noise telling you what to do."
He acknowledged the gamble: "Bringing Marcus Rashford back into the fold is a gamble but it's a case of risk and reward. Take the risk, it works out, and Carrick is the best manager ever. People will be asking themselves, how did he get Rashford back to his best and playing for United? If it goes the other way, then you've got egg on your face."
Rashford's mindset key
Yorke emphasised the importance of Rashford's mentality: "I would go to Rashford at his home, have a conversation with him, and see where his mind is because a fit and flying Rashford at 28 years of age is the kind of play that wins you Premier League titles." He added: "The only question is whether Rashford has the stomach to come back to England, take on the doubters and the haters, and prove to himself — not to them — that he is the player we know he can be."
Yorke concluded: "He's undoubtedly the most gifted player in the squad but does he want to come back and fight and show that determination to be the best, to be the number one player at the club again? It's down to him."
Contract situation
Rashford has two years remaining on his current deal, reported to be worth £17.5 million per year, which is seen as a sticking point for potential suitors. During the World Cup, Rashford stated: "I was very clear. I wanted any move to be done before the World Cup. If it's not, I wanted it to wait until after. I want to be fully present in the moment."
