Mainoo and Rashford withdraw from England squad ahead of Nations League fixtures

Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford have withdrawn from Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the September Nations League fixtures, leaving Manchester United manager Michael Carrick short of options during the international break.

The news compounds a difficult start to the season for United, who have collected just five points from their opening five Premier League games. Carrick’s side drew at Fulham at the weekend, a result that piled further pressure on the manager, with Rashford only featuring after Benjamin Sesko failed to make the bench.

Mainoo’s absence is particularly notable given Tuchel’s public commitment to giving the midfielder game time this month. The England manager had called up the 20-year-old with clear intentions, saying: “I expect him to be on the pitch. He didn’t put a foot wrong in the World Cup: he was class in behaviour and on the training pitch.” Mainoo had been the only United player selected for the 2026 World Cup squad but did not feature in a single minute of the tournament.

Rashford, 28, has been reintegrated into United’s first team this season following an 18-month loan spell at Barcelona. He started at Craven Cottage at the weekend, making his withdrawal from international duty another setback for Carrick’s planning.

Both Mainoo and Rashford are understood to have been withdrawn as precautionary measures rather than due to serious concerns. United are also without Matthijs De Ligt and Amad Diallo, though the pair are expected to be available when Premier League action resumes next month.

Mainoo and Rashford join Tino Livramento, Cole Palmer, and Declan Rice in pulling out of Tuchel’s squad, with James Garner and Morgan Gibbs-White called up as replacements.

United return to Premier League action against Tottenham Hotspur in October.