Manchester United vs Fenerbahce - Mourinho would question England Under-21 call

Posted Thursday, October 20, 2016 by PA

Jose Mourinho feels it will make "no sense" for Marcus Rashford to play for England at next summer's European Under-21 Championship if by that stage the forward is a "regular" for the senior side.

Reports have suggested the Football Association will demand that Rashford, 18, is made available for the finals in Poland, irrespective of his development with the seniors.

The Manchester United youngster has five senior caps, which have seen him score in a starting debut in May, then get four run-outs as a substitute.

He made his sole England Under-21s appearance in September, netting a hat-trick, before returning to the senior set-up for the World Cup qualifiers against Malta and Slovenia earlier this month.

Asked what his club's position was on the matter, United boss Mourinho said on Wednesday: "We are in mid-October, and the Championship will be in the summer.

"I think we have to wait and see what happens until then. Because if the player becomes a regular in the 'A' national team, if you want to call it that, and established, then to say 'it is important for his development, the Under-21s' makes no sense.

"It's the same that he's a regular here with us, and then we are going to play him in the Under-23 Championship because we want to beat somebody and he can give us a help in that.

"Let's see what happens. If he's an Under-21s player in the national team, then he is an Under-21s player and there is no discussion about that.

"But if he becomes a regular choice for (England interim boss) Gareth Southgate in the first team, then we have to speak because we don't want to go into contradictions."

Mourinho was speaking at his press conference ahead of Thursday's Europa League Group A clash with Fenerbahce at Old Trafford.

The Portuguese refused to confirm whether or not United captain Wayne Rooney, who has only featured as a substitute for the last four matches, would start against the Turkish side.

"I don't want to give you the team, honestly," Mourinho said.

"Wayne is working well - he's one of the big responsible people for the atmosphere that the players can breathe because he's positive and a good example.

"We count on him to start or be on the bench, but he will be there tomorrow."

After a three-game losing streak in all competitions, United have gone unbeaten in their last five, their most recent result Monday's 0-0 Premier League draw at Liverpool.

There have been questions of late over the performances of midfielder Paul Pogba and striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the two most high-profile signings the club made over the summer, and Mourinho has stressed they are not "untouchable" players.

In 2006 that was how he described certain members of his side at Chelsea.

Asked on Wednesday if he had the same approach at United, with Pogba and Ibrahimovic mentioned specifically, Mourinho said: "No. That was a different Premier League and situation - it was the best team by far. It was a different story.

"Untouchable in our team has to be the spirit, the commitment, the pride, the commitment to the club, the respect to the fans - that has to be untouchable, not players."

Mourinho would not say whether Henrikh Mkhitaryan will feature on Thursday, but did comment of the playmaker, who has been sidelined for seven games with a thigh issue.

He said: "Now he is fit and now it is time for him to go back to the levels we know he can achieve."

As well as Mkhitaryan, forward Anthony Martial and midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin - both absent on Monday due to knocks - look to be in contention for a return to United's matchday squad on Thursday as they took part in training on Wednesday morning.

The only player Mourinho would confirm as a starter for the game was Luke Shaw, who also attended the press conference.

Last month Shaw was singled out by Mourinho for criticism following United's 3-1 loss at Watford, with the manager unhappy about the 21-year-old left-back's positioning during the build-up to one of the goals from the home side.

Asked about that on Wednesday, Shaw said: "I am a grown man now and I can take what the manager said.

"I am also still young, so I need to take it on board and improve. You have to listen to what your coaches say and have a good attitude about it."

United are third in Group A with three points from two games, a point behind leaders Fenerbahce, who have ex-United striker Robin van Persie in their squad.