Man United's Marcus Rashford to miss European U21 Championship - sources

Marcus Rashford will miss the European Under-21 Championship in Poland next month, with England manager Gareth Southgate's choosing instead to select the Manchester United forward for the forthcoming internationals against Scotland and France, sources have told ESPN FC.

Rashford, 19, will take his place in the senior team at the expense of United and England captain Wayne Rooney, who is not expected to be named by Southgate when he announces his squad on Thursday.

Southgate had been determined to hand U21 manager Aidy Boothroyd the strongest possible squad for the European Championship, but Rashford's emergence as a key figure at United in recent weeks, combined with Jose Mourinho's reservations over the teenager being forced to play in Poland, has led to the striker being selected only for the seniors.

Sources told ESPN FC in April that senior figures within the FA had begun to accept that Rashford's progress at United had elevated him beyond the U21 level, with the youngster's development being compared to that of Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli in the build-up to Euro 2016.

United will regard the decision as common sense having prevailed, with Rashford making his 53rd first-team appearance of the season -- more than any of his Old Trafford teammates -- during the Europa League final against Ajax in Stockholm on Wednesday evening.

Rooney's absence from the squad will be surprise, however, with the 31-year-old only recently returning to the starting lineup at United following a disappointing campaign at the club.

England's all-time leading goal scorer, Rooney had said at the start of this season that he would retire from international following the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

But with Southgate overlooking him for the World Cup qualifier against Scotland in Glasgow and the friendly against the French in Paris, he now faces a battle to reclaim his place in the squad, particularly if the likes of Rashford, Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy and Jermain Defoe avoid injury and loss of form next season.

Southgate, meanwhile, will hand Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland a recall following his year-long battle against an ankle injury sustained against Germany in Berlin last year.

And Arsenal's Kieran Gibbs will be given a surprise call-up due to injuries ruling out left-backs Danny Rose and Luke Shaw.

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