Roy Keane tells 'experienced' Man Utd star to send important five-word message to teammates in locker room

Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane has insisted that Marcus Rashford must accept responsibility and apologise to his Manchester United teammates after his recent actions.

Marcus Rashford missed Manchester United’s 4-2 victory over Newport County in the fourth round of the FA Cup at the Rodney Parade last Sunday.

The 26-year-old United forward was absent from his team’s training session ahead of the FA Cup tie due to illness, but Rashford faced bigger controversy at the time.

Rashford had visited Belfast nightclubs on Wednesday and Thursday last week before he was reported as ill for the club’s Friday training session.

Erik ten Hag was asked about the England star’s absence from the FA Cup match and Rashford’s visit to nightclubs in Northern Ireland.

The United boss said it was an internal matter and he would deal with it, with the Premier League club later issuing a statement on the situation involving Rashford.

The Red Devils claimed the matter had been resolved and Rashford had “taken responsibility for his actions,” with United considering the internal issue “closed.”

READ MORE: Jermain Defoe received Instagram DM from Man Utd star and now shares what was privately said to him

MORE UNITED STORIES

United legend Keane advises Rashford

Speaking on the Stick to Football show, Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Ian Wright and Roy Keane discussed Rashford’s disciplinary case at Manchester United.

United legend Neville spoke openly about Rashford on the show and the Sky Sports pundit expressed his areas of concern about the Three Lions star.

Keane, meanwhile, suggested that now is the time for Rashford to ‘hold his hands up’ and admit that he made a mistake in front of his United teammates.

“The penny has to drop for him,” he said on The Overlap.

“When we went into the dressing room, guys wouldn’t pat you on the back and saying, ‘Well done for missing training yesterday.’

“I came back late one time, I went to Nottingham to watch a reserve match, I’d only just come to Manchester United and came in four or five hours late.

“You’re talking about Marcus getting that protection – sometimes you are on your own.

“You’re 26, you’re an experienced player in the dressing room. You must hold your hands up and say, ‘I have been an idiot.’”

Speaking ahead of United’s Premier League clash with Wolves on Thursday, Ten Hag was quizzed about Rashford at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday.

“As I said, he has taken responsibility. Case closed,” he said.

Keane went on to question Rashford’s mentality and the Sky Sports pundit suggested that football seems like a “chore” to the United forward right now.

The United legend said that the England forward is a “big player” for the Red Devils and Rashford has proven “he can produce” for his side.

Keane added: “We talk about him [Rashford], he’s a young lad, lots of pressure and he’s local, but it doesn’t look like he’s enjoying his football anymore.

“It goes hand in hand, what is happening off the pitch and on it.

“Football looks like it’s a chore to him, and it shouldn’t be. There’s pressure on everybody there, but he’s a big player for Manchester United. He’s shown before that he can produce.

“The cars, the watches, all that is great, but don’t forget what comes first – your football.

“Good luck with all that other stuff, but if that is becoming more important than your football, then you’re in trouble.”

Related Topics