Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has sparked debate by declaring that Marcus Rashford should be preferred over Anthony Gordon for England's starting lineup when both players are available.
The Battle for England's Left Wing
The debate intensified during England's recent 2-0 World Cup qualifying victory against Serbia, where Rashford was handed a starting berth in Gordon's absence due to injury. Both players are competing to secure a regular position in Gareth Southgate's team ahead of the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Keane left no doubt about his preference when analysing the match for ITV. "If you're comparing the two of them, Rashford and Gordon at their very best, I'm going for Rashford," the outspoken pundit stated emphatically.
Rashford's Performance Analysis
During his half-time assessment of Rashford's display against Serbia, Keane offered a balanced critique. "He's been busy, he's been lively, he's made a couple of runs but he's probably a little disappointed with his end product because he's in great form and doing really well at Barcelona," Keane observed.
The ITV analyst highlighted several positive aspects of Rashford's game, noting: "His movement off the ball... He looks confident. Nice link up play on the left-hand side with Nico O'Reilly. He's been a threat." However, Keane concluded that despite these qualities, "at the end of it, you want a bit more."
Rashford's current loan spell at Barcelona has undoubtedly boosted his credentials, with the Manchester United forward producing an impressive six goals and nine assists in his opening 16 games for the La Liga giants.
The Statistical Comparison
The numbers favour Rashford in the direct comparison this season. While the United loanee has contributed to 15 goals in 16 Barcelona appearances, Gordon has managed four goals and one assist in 13 Newcastle outings during the current campaign.
Keane acknowledged that Rashford can still frustrate observers but maintained his support for the 26-year-old. "He can still frustrate you, of course, but he's a threat and when he's on top form he is a handful. You wouldn't want to face him," Keane told ITV viewers.
Rashford's Barcelona Future
The England international's future remains a topic of intense speculation, with Rashford expressing his desire to extend his stay at Barcelona beyond the current season. The Spanish club holds an option to make the loan move permanent next summer for £28 million.
When questioned by ESPN about his preference, Rashford confirmed: "Oh yeah, for sure. I'm enjoying this football club and I think for anybody who loves football, Barcelona is one of the key clubs in the history of the game. For a player it is an honour."
However, former United striker Louis Saha has questioned whether the proposed transfer fee represents a bargain, given Rashford's previous struggles at Old Trafford. "I think Marcus Rashford does provide a bit of worry," Saha commented. "What happened to him at United? It's not a bargain because of what he went through in a really tough moment. He didn't play well for two years. He had a lot of issues."
As the competition for England places intensifies ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Keane's public backing adds another layer to the ongoing selection dilemma facing Gareth Southgate, with both Rashford and Gordon presenting compelling cases for inclusion in the national team setup.
