Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford says he is “100% committed” to England after withdrawing from international duty in March and facing criticism for his visit to New York.
The 25-year-old forward missed the Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine due to injury.
At the time, England manager Gareth Southgate defended the forward’s decision to move to America.
“I need time to switch off and recover,” Rashford said.
“I had a short trip, four days, then went back to rehab and just try and get ready as soon as possible.
“With injuries, you never know when they’re going to happen. Sometimes you have impact injuries. I know I’m 100% committed to [England].
“People are going to say what they’re going to say. It doesn’t really bother me.”
Rashford now prepares for England’s next two Euro 2024 qualifiers, against Malta in Valletta on Friday and North Macedonia at Old Trafford next Monday.
The striker has scored 30 goals in all competitions for United in the season just completed.
His final game of the campaign was in the FA Cup final on 3 June, when United lost 2–1 to a Manchester City side who completed the treble.
“It’s not good but at the same time it’s football,” added Rashford, whose United side finished third and won the EFL Cup last season.
“The best team that is consistently playing the best football is going to win the most trophies. They managed to win three this year – well done to them.
“We just move on. It’s up to them to keep it up and up to the rest of us.”
City’s Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Calvin Phillips, John Stones and Kyle Walker all joined the England squad on Tuesday.
Asked what he would say to the City squad in the England camp, Rashford replied: “Just congratulations, that’s football. The most consistent teams are going to win trophies, that’s nothing new. . Look at Barcelona and Madrid, they are always going. Win trophies.”
He added that England players winning trophies was a “massive positive” and would only help the team “get over the line in a big tournament”.
England’s match in Malta on Friday extends a season that began for Rashford on August 7, more than 10 months ago.
The forward, who played 56 times for his club in a season that included the World Cup in November and December, described the current calendar as “crazy”.
“The players are pushing themselves to the limit,” he said.
“We need to allow more time to recover between certain games and at different stages of the season.
“That’s my opinion but I don’t think it’s up to the players. We shouldn’t put ourselves in a position to talk about something we don’t have control over or we’re not going to the final. But the decision. .”
