Allardyce explains Rashford omission

Marcus Rashford needs to cement his place in the Manchester United starting line-up before he can become an England regular, manager Sam Allardyce has said.

After a stunning debut season in the Premier League, Rashford was included in Roy Hodgson's squad for the European Championships.

Despite coming off the bench to score his first Premier League goal of the season at Hull on Saturday, the 18-year-old will have to make do with a place in the Under-21 squad during the international break.

Having failed to start any of United's three Premier League games this season, Allardyce has warned the forward that he needs to be playing regularly for United before he can earn a recall to at senior international level.

"I think that having international experience in the Under-21s will be invaluable for us later down the line. And, if he's breaking into Manchester United's team, he will be in my squad, whenever that's announced," Allardyce told reporters on Monday.

"But because of his inclusion only as a substitute - as good as it was against Hull City - I think that the value of having probably a full game with Gareth (Southgate, Under-21 manager) will be invaluable to him and, later on, for us. A bit like Harry Kane and people like that in the past.

"He made a massive impact last season, yes, but he's only a young man, let's not heap too much pressure on him just yet. Let him go and have a feel playing for the Under-21s; hopefully he's a star for them, scores goals for them and gives me that decision next time around on the next squad I pick."

Allardyce did not include Ross Barkley in his first England squad despite the Everton midfielder's promising start to the season.

Barkley, who did not see any game time during Euro 2016, has scored twice in four games for Everton this season and Allardyce admits he found it difficult to leave him out of his 23-man squad.

"We've had to make some very, very difficult decisions. None more so than Ross Barkley. It's disappointing for him. The door will always be open for Ross but at this moment I think the squad I've named is right," Allardyce explained.

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