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Manchester United under pressure as new details emerge about Marcus Rashford’s injury

It is understood Rashford’s back was causing him significant discomfort before the FA Cup replay with Wolves last week, a game the England international ended up limping out of after just 16 minutes

Mark Critchley
Northern Football Correspondent
Monday 20 January 2020 14:30 GMT
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Manchester United find themselves under yet more pressure after it emerged Marcus Rashford's back was causing him significant discomfort in the days before the FA Cup third round win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, with the striker even finding it painful to sit down.

Rashford is likely to be sidelined for at least six weeks after suffering a double stress fracture of the back. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed his top scorer faces a lengthy lay-off after Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Liverpool.

Rashford sustained the injury in last Wednesday's replay with Wolves, having been rested by Solskjaer and then introduced as a second-half substitute. After a forceful challenge by Matt Doherty, Rashford attempted to play on but lasted just 16 minutes in total and left the pitch clutching at his back.

Solskjaer insisted on Sunday that the injury was new and not a recurrence of an existing problem, but he had already revealed after the Wolves replay that Rashford has suffered from a number of minor back problems recently.

"He has struggled a little bit with a couple of knocks with his back lately and he got another one which didn’t help," he told BT Sport after the game.

The Independent understands Rashford's back was causing him significant discomfort before the Wolves game, with him even finding it difficult to sit down at a personal event held at Hotel Football - nearby to Old Trafford - in the days after United's win over Norwich.

Club sources indicate that Rashford was passed fit to play against Wolves but nevertheless the length of the subsequent lay-off now calls the decision to play him into question.

After the Wolves game, Rashford tweeted: "Never want to feel like I’ve let my teammates, the club and most importantly the fans down so did my very best to carry on tonight and was gutted to come off. Top work from the lads to get into the next round."

Rashford scored twice against Norwich, once from the penalty spot, but despite being on a hat-trick, he was removed by Solskjaer with United 3-0 up on 59 minutes.

The 22-year-old was pictured travelling to Old Trafford for that game with a ultrasound device designed to help treat bone fractures. Rashford has experienced issues with his back since he was a young player and has used the machine to treat the problems.

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