- 1,612
- 9
- 38
There is no suggestion that Rashford has deliberately refused an England call up - in fact, he has always spoken about how much he enjoys being part of Southgate's squads.
It's important to point out that no player or club is allowed to simply refuse an international call up. Were they to do so, or were there to be any suspicions that a player is not injured, the national association is allowed to assess that player with their own medical staff.
Annexe 1 of the Fifa regulations on the status of players says: "A player who due to injury or illness is unable to comply with a call-up... shall, if the association so requires, agree to undergo a medical examination by a doctor of that association's choice."
The trip to reigning champions Italy and Sunday's Wembley clash against Euro 2020 quarter-final opponents Ukraine provided a tough start on the journey to next summer's finals in Germany.
But Southgate's absentee-hit side bounced back well from the disappointment of December's World Cup quarter-final exit to France, with last Thursday's 2-1 victory in Naples representing a first win away to Italy since 1961.
Three days later England comfortably beat Ukraine 2-0 in front of a sell-out crowd, meaning they took maximum points from the hardest double-header in a group completed by North Macedonia and Malta.