England’s head coach has long been a fan of Rashford and wants to be the beneficiary of Aston Villa manager Unai Emery’s repair job on the forward’s career.
He said: “I had a strong feeling we should nominate him, to push him to stay at the level he is at now not fall back into old routines.”
Tuchel’s words offer an indication that he realises Rashford had fallen by the wayside at Old Trafford but is also convinced the 27-year-old can offer much to his new England.
He clearly does not feel the same about Manchester City’s Jack Grealish. He would have been hoping to make a comeback after also missing out on Euro 2024, although he has not figured regularly under manager Pep Guardiola.
Tottenham midfielder James Maddison is another who is, for now at least, consigned to the margins,
Tuchel goes with that he knows by recalling Chelsea’s Reece James as he makes his return from another hamstring injury.
He was a key member of Tuchel’s side that won the Champions League in 2021 and there is a potential opening at right-back with Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold injured, Kyle Walker, 34, and on loan at AC Milan, and with Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento talented but inexperienced.
