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Marcus Rashford looks set for an awkward reunion with his former manager this weekend.

Michael Carrick has explained why Rashford was not involved for Manchester United in Saturday’s match against Leeds.

The forward had been seen as close to a much-anticipated return in the colours of his boyhood club after 19 months away.

His previous appearance came in December 2024, before he was loaned out to Aston Villa soon afterwards for the rest of the 2024-25 season.

The England international then moved to Barcelona on another loan in 2025, spending the year in Spain after being included in Ruben Amorim’s ‘bomb squad’.

Although the La Liga club had an option to buy the winger, they instead chose to sign Anthony Gordon from Newcastle and Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund, which sent Rashford back to United, where he has now been brought back into the first-team group.

He linked up with his team-mates in Ireland after taking an extended break following England’s run to the World Cup semi-finals, and he had been expected to get a short outing in Dublin against familiar opponents Leeds. However, he was a surprise omission from the matchday squad altogether.

Before the Red Devils’ 1-1 draw at Croke Park, Carrick told MUTV: "Marcus, Licha [Martinez] and Kobbie [Mainoo] aren't quite ready yet. We're preserving them for this weekend."

The United manager, who was given the job permanently after guiding the club to a third-place finish last season, appeared to suggest that Rashford would remain at Old Trafford beyond the end of this summer’s transfer window, despite speculation over his future.

"He's our player,” Carrick told ITV after the match.

“He's come back great. He's just like any other player. I've known him a long time and he gives us something a little bit different. We're looking forward to the start of the season."

United face Amorim’s AC Milan in their final pre-season friendly this weekend, before beginning their new Premier League campaign away to newly-promoted Hull City.