MARCUS RASHFORD is in hot water again at Manchester United for missing training after back-to-back nights out in Belfast.
It is believed the England star told boss Erik ten Hag he was too ill on Friday, despite being spotted in Thompsons Garage nightclub hours earlier.
The incident is another headache for Ten Hag ahead of Sunday’s potential FA Cup fourth-round banana skin at League Two’s Newport.
Rashford trained on Wednesday and was pictured in Lavery’s Bar that evening ahead of a planned day off.
He is believed to have been in Northern Ireland to see his pal and former academy team-mate Ro-Shaun Williams, who is signed for Larne FC.
The striker was then seen in Thompsons on Thursday and flew home by private jet the following morning.
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But Ten Hag revealed at his pre-match press conference on Friday that “Rashford was ill” and could not train.
The forward’s partying is likely to enrage disciplinarian Ten Hag who has already blasted Rashford once this season for going out partying — especially as the players had only just returned from a week off.
Ten Hag slammed Rashford’s night out after his side were beaten 3-0 by Manchester City in a derby.
The Dutch boss said: “I spoke with him about it. It’s unacceptable. He apologised and that is it. For us it’s an internal matter. He’s very motivated to put things right. He’s totally with us.
“He has made a mistake but that doesn’t say he’s not fitting in. I see him every day in training, what he’s doing, I know.”
And in December 2022, Ten Hag dropped Rashford from the starting line-up against Wolves after he overslept and was late for a meeting.
The latest disciplinary breach comes soon after United winger Jadon Sancho left on loan to Borussia Dortmund.
He was frozen out of the squad after Ten Hag dropped him for poor performances in training.
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Sancho hit out and accused Ten Hag of using him as a “scapegoat” and then refused to apologise.
Ten Hag admits he is under as much pressure as his men to seal a slot in the United revolution.
The Dutchman will have just one season left on his contract in the summer.
He has held regular talks with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos team since his £1.03billion investment was confirmed.
The Red Devils boss refused to reveal if a new deal featured in the wide-ranging discussions.
He said: “We speak about many subjects but I can’t go into detail. Firstly, the most important thing is the club. It’s not about any individual person.
“But when you’re involved in top-level football I think you know that you have to prove yourself every day — that counts for everyone who is working for this club.”
Ten Hag added: “Last season we were overperforming.
“Now we have a downfall and we have to stop this. We know that we need to be better.
“At United you have to win trophies. That should be the mentality here.”
