Marcus Rashford: England boss Thomas Tuchel sends warning to Barcelona loanee and urges him not to waste talent | Football news

Thomas Tuchel says Marcus Rashford has the potential to become one of the best strikers in world football, but fears the Barcelona loanee is wasting his talent.

The England head coach also revealed that he speaks regularly with Rashford, warning him that he needs to score more and create more, otherwise he may regret missed opportunities when he is in the latter stages of his career.

Rashford has recorded three goals and four assists in his 10 appearances for the Spanish giants since his temporary move from Manchester United in the summer.

“He can be one of the best in the world because the finishing and the quality I see in training, with both legs and the head, he is explosive, he is fast, he is strong in the air, so for him there are no limits,” Tuchel said.

“But the numbers don't reach the potential. He has to push himself to get involved in the goals. He knows that thanks to me.

“I think he still has to make those decisions. He's still young enough to make those decisions, because otherwise he might be disappointed in 10 years with what he could have been and what he could have done.

“That's the title for him, to keep pushing his limits. And the limit for him is very, very high, maybe higher than for the others.

“He has that potential. But potential is a dangerous word in high-level sport, because you have to regularly achieve your personal best – that's required at that kind of level and that's the challenge for him. It's not about talent.

“The question is whether he can prove his point at club and international level; that's his task. Whether he starts fast or comes off the bench, he has to constantly prove himself.”

Rashford has been named in all but one of the squads Tuchel has opted for since his first game in March, with the summer internationals against Senegal and Andorra being the only games he missed after picking up an injury to end the 2024/25 campaign while on loan at Aston Villa.

“I can feel it, and I felt in my first camp, that I can help him if he feels my support for him because he was at Aston Villa at the time, which seemed quite bold to me at the time, to come into a team that was well settled and played a hard-working style,” Tuchel added.

“It was a very good decision for him, he settled in very quickly. I liked his work rate against the ball, and yet he didn't score as many goals and goal involvements as he could have, for the quality we see in training.

Rashford came off the bench in England's 3-0 win over Wales last time out, replacing his former Villa team-mate Ollie Watkins following an injury, and could get his next opportunity to impress against Latvia on Tuesday.

Kane set to return against Latvia

The Three Lions can secure their World Cup qualification with a win and will be boosted by the return of captain Harry Kane, who was an unused substitute against Craig Bellamy's side after missing training with an ankle injury in the build-up to the friendly.

“It's very easy with Harry, he can play and is fit. We did the right thing,” Tuchel said in his pre-match press conference.

“Better in training and ready to go. I don't see why he couldn't play 90 minutes. I don't see any obstacles.”

On Watkins, who was injured against Wales and withdrew from the England squad following the setback, Tuchel added: “Ollie [Watkins] unfortunately, I left the camp.

“It was too painful and I couldn't train with us. He is in treatment with his club.”

England's next matches

• October 14 – Latvia, kick-off at 7:45 p.m.
• November 13 – Serbia, kick-off at 7:45 p.m.
• November 16 – Albania, kick-off at 5 p.m.