Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford has great potential but Euro 2016 call-up could harm his development, says John Barnes

Rushford? Manchester United starlet set to make his senior England debut tonight
Stu Forster/Getty Images

EXCLUSIVE

Marcus Rashford has been hailed as a "fantastic" player for the future by John Barnes, but the former England winger has warned that the Manchester United youngster's long-term development could be harmed if he goes to Euro 2016.

Rashford was last week named in Hodgson's provisional 26-man squad for this summer's European Championships in France, but missed England's first warm-up friendly game against Turkey on Sunday after playing in United's FA Cup win over Crystal Palace a day earlier.

He joined up with the Three Lions squad and underwent his first training session with England on Wednesday despite suffering an injury scare in the FA Cup victory after being forced off in the 72nd minute with an apparent knee problem.

However, Hodgson revealed on Thursday that the 18-year-old is set to start his first England cap when the Three Lions take on Australia at the Stadium of Light on Friday with Daniel Sturridge struggling with injury, but expressed his concern about the amount of attention Rashford has had in recent weeks.

With the Three Lions having the likes of forwards Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy and Wayne Rooney at their disposal for Euro 2016, Barnes has echoed Hodgson's concerns about Rashford, saying the England manager should be cautious about taking the 18-year-old to France - despite his obvious talent.

Speaking to Standard Sport, Barnes said: "I'd be very surprised if he [Rashford] goes because we still have Vardy, Sturridge, Kane and Rooney so to put him in when he's only had 10 games will be a lot of pressure.

"If you look at Theo Walcott, he went to the World Cup at 16 because he was going to be the next superstar. He's now 27 and I don't know whether he's playing much better now than when he was 17 or 18.

"With young players, you have to handle them slowly. Rashford has done nothing [yet].

"He has great potential and is a fantastic player for the future but if you put them in too early before they are ready, it could affect them."

John Barnes was speaking to us while training up mascots with Emirates ahead of the Emirates FA Cup Final. Find out more at www.facebook.com/TheFACup

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