Kyle Walker urges Marcus Rashford to adapt to new position to get in England side

Kyle Walker has told his former England teammate Marcus Rashford to consider changing position to boost his international career. Rashford has a total of 78 caps for the Three Lions and has played the large majority of his games for his country on the left wing. But Walker thinks a potential new focus on playing as a striker for Thomas Tuchel ‘s side could help him get more minutes. At the start of his career with England, Rashford played up front regularly before becoming a permanent left winger. Across his 78 caps, he has played 23 games as a striker, but only two of those games have come in the last six years. Of course, as Harry Kane has been so dominant on the international stage as well as at club level, any other striker playing for the Three Lions has majorly struggled for regular minutes. However, Kane is now 33 years old and coming towards the end of his career, with doubts rising over who will be able to step into his shoes after retirement – so could Rashford capitalise on that? Walker has praised his good friend and ex-teammate for his ability on the left, but thinks he could launch a bid to start up front. He said on talkSPORT Drive: “I like him on the left. I think he would probably be more effective though, through the middle. “But if Marcus thinks he should be playing off the left then that’s his best position, he’s still a very good player.” Walker added: “I look at England… Anthony Gordon is undroppable. “So maybe Marcus needs to look at that and think: ‘Can I add another string to my bow and adapt as a No.9 and play down the middle?'” What else has Walker said on Rashford? Rashford made six appearances for England at the World Cup this summer, scoring one goal at the tournament and impressing at times, but since returning to Man United his form has dipped. And Walker thinks confidence is all the 28-year-old needs, saying: “I spoke to some of the lads during the World Cup and they said he was so sharp in training. It was like having the old Rashford back. “I think Marcus plays a lot off confidence. I think strikers do. You score goals and everything is going completely fine. “He just needs a bit of a run in a team. Managers, if strikers aren’t having a good time, should say: ‘Listen, I’m going to give you two, three games, it doesn’t matter what happens, but we’ll give you a bit of confidence, give you chances and you have to take them’. “But taking him in and out, dropping him, giving him 20 minutes here and there having to showcase what he can do… “I think it’s always difficult for strikers, they want to score goals and probably try too hard.” Does Rashford have a future at Man United? So far this season, Rashford has started four of his six Premier League appearances for Man United, but he hasn’t played 90 minutes. He’s also yet to score or assist in all competitions this term. Walker was asked whether he thinks the forward has a future at his hometown club after struggling to make an impact. The right-back said: “I’d like to think so. I think what he’s done for the club, he needs to do a little more to be up in that legendary status of Man United. But he lives, breathes and loves the club dearly. “He needs to do a little bit more, but he’s got the potential to do it definitely.” “If his heart’s not in it at Man United, he may as well finish football,” Walker added, praising Rashford’s passion for the Red Devils. “And I can tell you now, I saw him a week ago and he’s fully invested into the club.”