Troy Deeney believes incoming Manchester United manager Mauricio Pochettino should ‘make a statement’ by looking to sell Marcus Rashford.
Rashford failed to make an impact under Michael Carrick after returning to Old Trafford following his loan spell at Barcelona last season. The 29-year-old missed the last five matches of Carrick’s tenure due to a hip injury, with Pochettino arriving as his replacement after agreeing a two-and-a-half-year contract with the Red Devils.
Pochettino’s arrival sparks Rashford speculation
Reports earlier this week have suggested that Rashford could be a big winner of United’s latest appointment, with Pochettino very keen to work with the England international and get him back to his best.
But former Premier League striker Deeney believes Pochettino should not be so lenient with Rashford and must be willing to sell the forward in January if he doesn’t get back to his best quickly.
Deeney calls for a ‘huge sledgehammer’
‘Poch must go in and take a huge sledgehammer to the toxic Carrington culture, accepting that things are not good enough,’ Deeney told The Sun.
‘Managers and those above need to stop fiddling around the edges and tackle the big problem, otherwise there will be no progress.
‘United supporters might not like it, but Arsenal have shown the way and offered the blueprint. Rather than repeating what has failed, they must make a brave change. Someone big has to go, even if it means short-term pain.
‘Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette were pushed out for the benefit of everyone. They were good players but carried a stink with them around the place.
‘Cut them out and everyone else can breathe, focus in training and start growing.’
Rashford and Fernandes in the spotlight
Deeney continued: ‘For the Red Devils, that has to be someone like skipper Bruno Fernandes or, once again, Marcus Rashford.
‘I can guarantee it now, Rashford will suddenly be fit for the Liverpool game. He will see a new manager who likes energy and pace, he will think he can do all that.
‘He might even start well, get a few games, but then Pochettino will ask for more and he will not like it. Then all the bad traits will come back — he’ll be out and about and late for training all over again. The cycle begins and the damage returns.
‘Pochettino must make a statement, give these players until January to prove they are on board or get rid.’
