Marcus Rashford receives warning over Man Utd playing time as he plots next step

Marcus Rashford's World Cup dream is in serious doubt after it emerged he is facing the axe from England manager Gareth Southgate.

The Manchester United misfit is bracing himself to be excluded from Southgate's latest squad - named next Thursday - for friendlies against Switzerland and Cote d'Ivoire.

Rashford knows this will be a huge blow to his chances of being on the plane to Qatar 2022 in November.

There are just two more England camps scheduled for June and September before England head to Qatar, meaning Rashford is facing a race against time prove to Southgate he is worth a place in his final squad for the Finals.

Rashford, 24, has been in the international wilderness for the last eight months.

He has not been involved in a Three Lions squad since last summer's Euros, after undergoing a shoulder operation following the tournament.

His last contribution on the England stage was to miss a penalty in the crushing shoot-out defeat to Italy in the Final in July.

Since returning to fitness in October, Rashford has endured a poor campaign, scoring just five goals and lose his United starting role to Anthony Elanga.

Mirror Sportunderstands Rashford is considering his United future after starting two of their last 11 games, and fears he may have to leave Old Trafford in the summer to boost his World Cup prospects.

Rashford, who has won 46 England caps and played in three major tournaments, has seen Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Jadon Sancho all overtake him in the international pecking order.

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But despite Rashford's recent struggles, it is understood Southgate has had no contact with him.

Rashford used to be one of the first names on Southgate's team sheet after helping England reach the semi-finals of the last World Cup in Russia.

But his fall from grace has become so dramatic that he is no longer sure of a place in the squad, let alone the side, as Southgate begins to finalise his plans for his assault on Qatar.