📅 September 21, 2026

Rashford and Mainoo Set to Miss England Duty After Picking Up Knocks at Fulham

By Mav Jones · Manchester United fan writer

Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo are both nursing fresh knocks from Sunday’s draw at Fulham, and David Ornstein is reporting that both are set to pull out of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the Nations League window. Neither injury has been fully explained yet, but the timing could work in United’s favour given there’s no game until Tottenham at home on 10 October.

Rashford’s “bit of an issue”

Marcus Rashford didn’t make it to full time at Craven Cottage. Michael Carrick brought him off in the 77th minute for Josh Zirkzee, and told beIN Sports afterward: “We had to bring him off as he had a bit of an issue.” Carrick said he wasn’t sure yet whether it’s something Rashford shakes off in a few days or something that needs longer. It’s a strange way to leave the pitch on an afternoon when Rashford had more shots and more touches in the box than anyone else in a United shirt.

A hip problem United have been managing since the World Cup

Ornstein’s reporting adds context that changes how serious this looks. Rashford has apparently been carrying a hip issue that the club have managed carefully since the World Cup, and Sunday’s knock is being assessed against that background rather than treated as something that came from nowhere. That’s the detail that turns “a bit of an issue” into something worth actually worrying about until United say otherwise.

Mainoo off too, after arguably his best half of the season

Kobbie Mainoo followed him off five minutes later, replaced by Mason Mount on 80 minutes. Paul Scholes had rated him United’s best player on the pitch in the first half. Ornstein says Mainoo has also picked up a knock, though there’s no detail yet on what it actually is or how long it might keep him out.

What it means for the break

Ornstein’s report has Rashford and Mainoo joining Chelsea’s Cole Palmer in withdrawing from Tuchel’s squad. England play Spain at Wembley on the 26th, then away to Czech Republic and Croatia before hosting Czech Republic again to close the window. For United, missing out on England duty at least means both get assessed and treated at Carrington instead of trying to get through four games in three weeks for someone else. Nothing is confirmed yet on how bad either issue is, and Carrick will presumably have more to say once United reconvene after the break.