Marcus Rashford 'contacted' by Thomas Tuchel as Man United attacker receives firm England answer

New England manager Thomas Tuchel has reportedly informed Marcus Rashford whether he sees him in his future Three Lions plans after his loan move to Aston Villa.

The 27-year-old will soon attempt to rebuild his career with the Lions after being ostracised from the Manchester United camp and revealing his desire to leave the Red Devils.

Rashford was frozen out of Ruben Amorim's squad after his most recent appearance for the Red Devils on December 12, allegedly due to poor training displays and his attitude around Carrington.

However, Villa boss Unai Emery was willing to extend an olive branch to Rashford, who could also join Aston Villa permanently at the end of the season if the Lions trigger their Â£40m option to buy.

The Man United academy graduate was also thought to have caught the eye of clubs in Spain, Germany, Italy and Saudi Arabia, but he rejected a move to the latter nation, partly due to his desire to break back into the England squad.

Rashford an "essential" part of Tuchel's England plans

Rashford won his 60th and most recent England cap all the way back in March 2024, having failed to make the cut for Euro 2024 while also missing out on selection on all three occasions during Lee Carsley's stint as interim head coach.

However, according to The Sun, new Three Lions boss Tuchel has also thrown Rashford a lifeline, insisting that the 27-year-old will be a crucial part of his plans for 2025 and beyond.

"Tuchel told Marcus and his representatives he saw Marcus as an essential part of the England squad going forward," a source allegedly told the publication.

Tuchel will take charge of his first England matches in March, where the Euro 2024 runners-up begin their World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign against Albania on the 21st of the month, three days before Latvia pay a visit.

In the meantime, Rashford will endeavour to build on a modest record of seven goals and three assists in 24 appearances during the current season, and he could make his Villa debut against Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday.

Which other England players could reignite careers under Tuchel?

Tuchel's appointment to the Three Lions hotseat might spell good news for some of the German's Champions League-winning Chelsea crop, a few of whom have experienced falls from grace since that famous 2021 triumph.

Rashford's Man United teammate Mason Mount is among them; the playmaker was extended a similar olive branch by Amorim when the Portuguese arrived at Old Trafford, but injuries have reared their ugly heads time and time again.

Mount will certainly need to string a consistent run of games together before Tuchel can justifiably pick him, though, and the same goes for Ben Chilwell, who will now compete with Tyrick Mitchell for left-back starts at Crystal Palace following his loan move.

On the opposite side of the backline, Reece James is finally a regular fixture in the Chelsea XI again following his injury nightmare, and amid Kyle Walker's noticeable decline, there should be scope for him to return too.

That may also be dependent on Arsenal's Ben White ending his self-imposed exile from the national team, as prior to his knee surgery in November, there was no reason not to select the right-back on form.