Manchester United

Louis van Gaal: Marcus Rashford "not ready" for first-team inclusion

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 21 April 2016

Louis van Gaal insists that Marcus Rashford and his fellow Manchester United academy products still have a lot to learn if they are to become regulars in the long term.

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has claimed that young prodigy Marcus Rashford is still not ready for regular Premier League football, despite his impressive recent breakthrough at Old Trafford.

The 18-year-old has scored seven goals in 13 games for the Red Devils since being handed his debut in a Europa League tie against FC Midtjylland in February.

Injuries to the likes of more experienced forwards Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial, on top of a lack of options elsewhere, tempted Van Gaal into giving the academy product a run of games.

Speaking ahead of this weekend's FA Cup semi-final meeting with Everton the Dutchman claimed that, while Rashford has done well, he still has plenty to take on board if he is to thrive at this level.

"[The young players] are not ready, I'm sorry. Also Marcus Rashford is not ready, he knows that. He can learn a lot," Van Gaal is quoted as saying by The Telegraph.

"You always need guts to put youngsters in the squad and also in the lineup, but of course the academy and all the academy coaches have credit for these players and also the scouts who discovered these boys.

"I am a little part of it. But that part is very important because you need the guts to [put them in the team]."

Rashford was among United's starters as they saw off Crystal Palace 2-0 in a routine fashion on Wednesday evening.