Manchester United and Erik ten Hag see Marcus Rashford return to the training field.

Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag seems to have Marcus Rashford available again sooner than expected. The striker was recently out with a muscle injury and appeared to be out for a few weeks, but according to Rich Fay of Manchester Evening News he is already back on the training field. That is excellent news for Manchester United and Ten Hag, because there are still a few crucial weeks ahead.

Rashford was forced to miss Manchester United’s last two games. The attacker was therefore unable to help his team in the first leg against Sevilla in the quarter-finals of the Europa League. Manchester United did not seem to need Rashford at first, but managed to relinquish a 2-0 lead in the second half. Sevilla fought back to 2-2, so that the return in Spain on Thursday evening promises to be a spectacle.

That Ten Hag can use Rashford well in the battle for a place in the semi-finals of the Europa League is an understatement. Rashford scored six goals and two assists in the Europa League alone. The Englishman has already scored fifteen times in the competition. Manchester United won 2-0 against Nottingham Forest without Rashford last Sunday and thus did good business in the battle for a Champions League ticket. Manchester United are currently third in the Premier League and are therefore on the right track to qualify for the main tournament of the billion dollar ball through the competition.

The final victory of the Europa League also provides a starting ticket for the Champions League. In addition to Rashford, Ten Hag also seems to have access to Luke Shaw, Marcel Sabitzer and Tyrell Malacia. Shaw has been sidelined for a while, giving Malacia the chance. However, the Dutchman had an unfortunate role in the first leg against Sevilla and had to miss last Sunday’s game against Nottingham Forest.