No tussle over star Rashford

ENGLAND manager Gareth Southgate says Jose Mourinho had no influence on the decision to pull Marcus Rashford from the Under-21 European Championship, and is ready to deal with "collisions" between club and country.

Southgate was originally enthusiastic about sending the Manchester United teenager to gain tournament experience in Poland this summer, a course of action that directly contradicted Mourinho's thinking, but changed his mind as Rashford's role expanded over the course of the season.

Having enjoyed more starts and first-team minutes in the second half of the campaign, including leading the line in the Europa League final win over Ajax, the 19-year-old's form persuaded Southgate he should be treated as a bona fide member of the senior group.

BARTER

And while that will be welcomed in the manager's office at Old Trafford, Southgate stressed there was no horse-trading or bartering over the decision and suggested an accord with Mourinho was not a prime motivation.

"The key for us is not the relationship with Jose, it's the relationship with Marcus," he said.

"I didn't speak to him (Mourinho) about it. I let him know where I was heading with it at the end. I am not in a position where I can make decisions to keep people happy. If I am trying to keep Jose happy that's going to be, let's say fairly difficult.

"So I have got to make decisions that are right for England seniors long term, I'm always mindful of what is right for the players. Respectfully, none of the managers are going to be around in 10 years."