Man Utd news: Marcus Rashford scores in win over Perth, Romelu Lukaku latest, Paul Pogba to captain United?
With a spin and a ruthless finish, Marcus Rashford immediately began to repay Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s faith in him.
The Manchester United striker’s 60th-minute finish set up a 2-0 win against Perth Glory here in the Optus Stadium – and was evidence of the killer instinct Solskjaer believes will make him a 25-goal a season man.
Rashford has been told he will lead United’s attack next term – prompting Romelu Lukaku to seek an exit from Old Trafford this summer.
And as Lukaku sat out the opening game of the club’s pre-season tour to Australia and the Far East, Rashford ensured Solskjaer got off to a winning start.
It was a moment of class orchestrated by Paul Pogba’s back heel on the edge of the box.
In Pictures | Perth Glory vs Manchester United, pre-season tour 2019
As the ball rolled into the area, Rashford turned in a flash and drove a first-time effort past Liam Reddy.
James Garner doubled United’s lead with four minutes to go – shooting from 20 yards to beat substitute keeper Tando Velaphi.
Solskjaer was desperate to get back to football after a summer of off-field uncertainty regarding Pogba and Lukaku.
And the latter’s absence from the squad on the night, prompted yet more questions about his future.
With Inter Milan opening talks over a move for the Belgium international this week, he has found himself the focus of scrutiny here in Perth.
That only intensified after he missed out on an open training session at the WACA on Thursday. And when his name was omitted from the 24-man squad to face Perth, it looked like another hint that he is on his way out of Old Trafford.
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His absence was officially attributed to a ‘slight niggle,’ with club sources claiming he would be back for Wednesday’s game here against Leeds.
But with Lukaku desperate to secure a move, he will remain the focus of attention during United’s tour.
Which is why Rashford’s goal will have come as such a relief to Solskjaer – justifying why he believes the 21-year-old has the potential to lead his attack.
But 50,206 fans had to wait until the second half to see the forward.
Instead, United started with Anthony Martial as centre forward, with Daniel James (below) handed his debut on the left and Tahith Chong on the right.
New signing James looked bright early on – frequently demanding the ball and driving forward.
An early cross should have reaped dividends, but no United player gambled by running into the six-yard box.
United created few opportunities, despite dominating possession – Ashley Young’s 25-yard free kick whistled past the post and Jesse Lingard forced a fingertip save from Reddy.
Solskjaer completely changed his line up at half time, with Pogba, Rashford and Wan-Bissaka all coming on.
Immediately United attacked with more pace and intent.
Mason Greenwood stretched Perth’s defence with his runs into the box, while Angel Gomes’ trickery also created openings.
But it was the combination of Pogba and Rashford that saw United open the scoring after Perth failed to clear their lines.
The Australian side Perth were guilty of inviting trouble again when Garner doubled United’s lead just moments after coming on for Luke Shaw.With a spin and a ruthless finish, Marcus Rashford immediately began to repay Gunnar Solskjaer’s faith in him.
The Manchester United striker’s 60th-minute finish set up a 2-0 win against Perth Glory here in the Optus Stadium – and was evidence of the killer instinct Solskjaer believes will make him a 25-goal a season man.
Rashford has been told he will lead United’s attack next term – prompting Romelu Lukaku to seek an exit from Old Trafford this summer.
And as Lukaku sat out the opening game of the club’s pre-season tour to Australia and the Far East, Rashford ensured Solskjaer got off to a winning start.
It was a moment of class orchestrated by Paul Pogba’s back heel on the edge of the box.
As the ball rolled into the area, Rashford turned in a flash and drove a first-time effort past Liam Reddy.
James Garner doubled United’s lead with four minutes to go – shooting from 20 yards to beat substitute keeper Tando Velaphi.
Solskjaer was desperate to get back to football after a summer of off-field uncertainty regarding Pogba and Lukaku.
And the latter’s absence from the squad on the night, prompted yet more questions about his future.
With Inter Milan opening talks over a move for the Belgium international this week, he has found himself the focus of scrutiny here in Perth.
That only intensified after he missed out on an open training session at the WACA on Thursday. And when his name was omitted from the 24-man squad to face Perth, it looked like another hint that he is on his way out of Old Trafford.
His absence was officially attributed to a ‘slight niggle,’ with club sources claiming he would be back for Wednesday’s game here against Leeds.
But with Lukaku desperate to secure a move, he will remain the focus of attention during United’s tour.
Which is why Rashford’s goal will have come as such a relief to Solskjaer – justifying why he believes the 21-year-old has the potential to lead his attack.
But 50,206 fans had to wait until the second half to see the forward.
Instead, United started with Anthony Martial as centre forward, with Daniel James handed his debut on the left and Tahith Chong on the right.
New signing James looked bright early on – frequently demanding the ball and driving forward.
An early cross should have reaped dividends, but no United player gambled by running into the six-yard box.
United created few opportunities, despite dominating possession – Ashley Young’s 25-yard free kick whistled past the post and Jesse Lingard forced a fingertip save from Reddy.
Solskjaer completely changed his line up at half time, with Pogba, Rashford and Wan-Bissaka (below) all coming on.
Immediately United attacked with more pace and intent.
Mason Greenwood stretched Perth’s defence with his runs into the box, while Angel Gomes’ trickery also created openings.
But it was the combination of Pogba and Rashford that saw United open the scoring after Perth failed to clear their lines.
The Australian side Perth were guilty of inviting trouble again when Garner doubled United’s lead just moments after coming on for Luke Shaw.
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We're underway and James has already had an impact with a dangerous low cross, which deserved to find another gold shirt.
No United player gambled by running into the six-yard box.
United's players have been treated to a traditional Australian dance before kick off.
Meanwhile, Jesse Lingard has been used as part of the stadium-cam graphic, trying to encourage fans to dance.
I'm hearing he knew nothing about it beforehand.
Solskjaer confirms he'll be ringing the changes tonight:
"It's the first game and what we want to see is a team that goes out with a focus on what we do and a tempo, and we see what we've been working on in training and of course we want to win every single game.
"In the second half there'll be 11 new ones so we'll make all our subs at half-time so everyone gets 45 minutes, a good workout - everyone apart from the ones who've got a few niggles.”
Looking at the United team sheet Chong will get a chance to establish himself on the right before James.
Presumably Martial will start in the centre, with James on the left and Chong on the opposite side.
James mainly operated on the left at Swansea, but the likelihood is that he will be deployed on the right next season in a front three including Martial and Rashford.
United are saying Lukaku has a 'small' injury problem and has been left out as a precaution.
Despite ongoing uncertainty over his future, he is expected to be fit for Leeds here on Wednesday.
James starts
New boy Daniel James started as Manchester United's pre-season tour got under way.
The Welsh flyer was named in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side, but fellow summer signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka had to settled for a place on the bench.
Getty
Wantaway midfielder Paul Pogba was on the bench, but there was no place for Lukaku, Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly and Lee Grant despite all being on the coach to Optus Stadium.
Lukaku out of United squad in Perth
Romelu Lukaku has been left out of Manchester United's squad for their first pre-season match against Perth Glory.
Getty
On Thursday Ed Woodward was trying to thrash out a deal with Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio over Lukaku, with United sources maintaining anything other than a straight cash offer is likely to be rejected.
United will demand £80million for their striker.
James Robson in Perth: "Hearing he’s been rested - which is interesting at the start of pre-season"
Team news
Daniel James starts for United against Perth Glory.
Man Utd XI: Romero, Dalot, Tuanzebe, Jones, Young; Andreas, Matic, Chong; Lingard, James, Martial
Man Utd to play against school children
Manchester United are preparing to face a Perth Glory side featuring school children as they kick off their pre-season tour here in Australia today.
Tony Popovic plans to include his two sons, Kristian, 17, and Gabriel, 15, in the squad along with 15-year-old Joshua Rawlins.
The news emerged on Friday, with local media reporting Perth are without six of their best players.
Solskjaer has been putting his players through gruelling double training sessions in a bid to improve fitness levels and instil the high-energy football he intends to implement next season.
Getty
But he might not get the work out he was looking for against Perth.
“You want the kit on,” he said. “Training is good and we play 11-a-side, but as soon as you get your kit on you are playing with your team-mates and against someone else. It is different.
“That is when we can see if the work we have done will take a bit of time, or if they have grasped it already.”
United play Leeds here on Wednesday before flying off to Singapore and Shanghai for games against Inter Milan and Tottenham.
Solskjaer is convinced his players will benefit from his intense training regime after their alarming collapse at the end of last season, which saw them win just one of their last nine games.
“It is about pre-season and that is what it is,” he told United’s website. “They should feel tired, they should feel that they are gaining something from it. We are building fitness, robustness, mental robustness and it has been very encouraging. They have been great.
“Of course, we have also worked on a couple of new tactical approaches and ways that we think can benefit us this year.
“You want to get everyone through and you want to get there without any niggles, and losing three or four days.
“I have been part of it myself when you have stop-start pre-seasons, you don’t really get your rhythm going. But it is a long season and if you get these six weeks in, then then the league starts and there are still three to four weeks there when we have only one game a week, so we can get some proper work done there as well. Then, let’s see.
“I am sure that when the league starts we will be ready, sharp and fit enough.”Manchester United are preparing to face a Perth Glory side featuring school children as they kick off their pre-season tour here in Australia today.
Tony Popovic plans to include his two sons, Kristian, 17, and Gabriel, 15, in the squad along with 15-year-old Joshua Rawlins.
The news emerged on Friday, with local media reporting Perth are without six of their best players.
Solskjaer has been putting his players through gruelling double training sessions in a bid to improve fitness levels and instil the high-energy football he intends to implement next season.
But he might not get the work out he was looking for against Perth.
“You want the kit on,” he said. “Training is good and we play 11-a-side, but as soon as you get your kit on you are playing with your team-mates and against someone else. It is different.
“That is when we can see if the work we have done will take a bit of time, or if they have grasped it already.”
United play Leeds here on Wednesday before flying off to Singapore and Shanghai for games against Inter Milan and Tottenham.
Solskjaer is convinced his players will benefit from his intense training regime after their alarming collapse at the end of last season, which saw them win just one of their last nine games.
“It is about pre-season and that is what it is,” he told United’s website. “They should feel tired, they should feel that they are gaining something from it. We are building fitness, robustness, mental robustness and it has been very encouraging. They have been great.
“Of course, we have also worked on a couple of new tactical approaches and ways that we think can benefit us this year.
“You want to get everyone through and you want to get there without any niggles, and losing three or four days.
“I have been part of it myself when you have stop-start pre-seasons, you don’t really get your rhythm going. But it is a long season and if you get these six weeks in, then then the league starts and there are still three to four weeks there when we have only one game a week, so we can get some proper work done there as well. Then, let’s see.
“I am sure that when the league starts we will be ready, sharp and fit enough.”
Manchester United are preparing to face a Perth Glory side featuring school children as they kick off their pre-season tour here in Australia today.
Tony Popovic plans to include his two sons, Kristian, 17, and Gabriel, 15, in the squad along with 15-year-old Joshua Rawlins.
The news emerged on Friday, with local media reporting Perth are without six of their best players.
Solskjaer has been putting his players through gruelling double training sessions in a bid to improve fitness levels and instil the high-energy football he intends to implement next season.
But he might not get the work out he was looking for against Perth.
"You want the kit on," he told United's website. "Training is good and we play 11-a-side, but as soon as you get your kit on you are playing with your team-mates and against someone else. It is different.
"That is when we can see if the work we have done will take a bit of time, or if they have grasped it already.”