Marcus Rashford may have already played final game for Man Utd before FA Cup final

Marcus Rashford is expected to be in the Manchester United squad for Saturday’s FA Cup final against Manchester City on Saturday. However, the Red Devils No. 10 may have already played his last game for the club amid growing uncertainty over his future and, in the shorter term, his status in Erik ten Hag’s squad.

Rashford’s disastrous season has sparked renewed questions about whether he needs a fresh challenge away from the ever-bright spotlight at Old Trafford.

Gareth Southgate’s brutal decision to exclude the 26-year-old from his preliminary 33-man England squad for this summer’s Euro 2024 intensified suggestions he needs to make a change.

Such conversations weren’t even in the realm of possibility 12 months ago as Rashford was finishing his career-best season, in which he scored 30 goals.

That contribution fired Ten Hag to a successful maiden campaign in charge, finishing third in the Premier League and lifting the Carabao Cup to end United’s six-year trophy drought.

A shock victory in this weekend’s derby clash would be a second piece of major silverware in as many years of the Dutchman’s reign.

However, it might not be enough to convince Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS that he is the right man to lead their rebuild project, which has already begun with a flurry of off-field changes.

Ten Hag is widely expected to join Richard Arnold, John Murtough, and multiple other senior club figures to have already departed under the new regime.

A clearout is also set to take place on the pitch this summer, and Rashford could very well be involved, despite signing a new long-term contract worth £300,000-a-week last summer.

Reports claim United will listen to offers for almost every first-team player as they seek to generate funds through player sales.

Amid tight restrictions imposed by Financial Fair Play and the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules, Rashford will be in the shop window.

And it’s no guarantee he will start in Saturday’s FA Cup final. In fact, he’s more likely to be named among the substitutes.

United finished their dismal league season with wins against Newcastle United and Brighton and Hove Albion.

Rashford was a second-half substitute in both after returning from an injury spell, and Amad Diallo has shone in his place after finally receiving a chance to start.

Ten Hag has been left impressed with Amad and Alejandro Garnacho on either side of Bruno Fernandes as the false nine. He has used his captain in the same role against City previously.

So, after back-to-back wins, it would be surprising to see the United boss change his set-up. And when he looks at goals from his bench, Rasmus Hojlund could be his first port of call.

The 21-year-old has joined Rashford on the bench in the last two games but came on the score in both. If he doesn’t start against City, he’ll certainly feature from the bench.

In the likely scenario that United need a goal in the latter stages against Pep Guardiola’s Premier League champions, Rashford should also take to the pitch.

But if Ten Hag’s side are holding onto a lead, he will prioritise defensive substitutions and his attacking players with a track record of running out of their skin off the ball.

If Rashford doesn’t feature this weekend, his cameo against Brighton could be his final outing for his boyhood club.