Rio Ferdinand has urged Marcus Rashford to reach out to Michael Owen regarding his ongoing injury problems.
While Rashford seemingly remains firmly in Southgate’s plans heading into the Euros, he also has a string of injury issues that have prevented him from being at his best this season for Manchester United.
Rashford’s injury problems have been ongoing for the last couple of years and the striker has reportedly delayed surgery so he can feature in this summer’s tournament, leading to concerns over his long-term fitness.
Owen’s injury problems
During a recent episode of his Vibe With FIVE podcast, Ferdinand had a key piece of advice for Rashford: go and speak to Michael Owen, another player who suffered from a string of injuries at a young age.
“What he needs to do is to go and have a conversation with Michael Owen. If I was advising him, I’d tell him right now, as quick as he can, to go and get Owen’s phone number,” he said.
“Have a coffee with Owen and let him talk to you about burnout, let him talk to you about playing too many matches at a young age and the effects that it has on your career in the years to come.
“That’s what he needs to do. If his advisors are watching, which I know they do, please, I’ll give you his number, just message me.
“Rashford and all these other players, what they’re doing right now, they weren’t doing what Michael Owen was doing at 18-years-old. He came on and smashed at a World Cup, no-one has become an overnight superstar by banging in a goal in the World Cup in the way he did for England.
“You just need to have that conversation to get a clear understanding of what burnout means and what it does to your career. Owen would’ve broken the England goalscoring record without a shadow of a doubt if he didn’t get the injuries and burnout.
“It’s important for the young players to understand that you can’t play every game. Sometimes you just have to hold your hand up and say ‘listen, I need a rest’.”
Despite that, Rashford will no doubt be hoping to play some kind of role in England’s Euro 2020 opener against Croatia this Sunday.
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