Wednesday 7 September 2016 17:47, UK
England's Under-21s can do fine without Marcus Rashford, according to team-mate Nathan Redmond, who has compared the Manchester United striker to Harry Kane and Saido Berahino.
After being left out of Sam Allardyce's first England squad as manager, the national team boss watched on from the stands as Rashford scored a hat-trick for Gareth Southgate's young side in a 6-1 win over Norway, edging them closer to reaching the 2017 European Championship.
Southampton forward Redmond started the match alongside Rashford in attack, and although he was impressed with the United striker's qualities, he insisted the U21 side can manage without Rashford in their ranks.
"Marcus has done well so far. But this was his first game and we have done well without him," Redmond told the Mirror.
"So we can cope, we have other strikers and players who can come in. It is a very strong squad. If he comes away with us again it will be an added bonus, if not we've got the players to deal with it."
Redmond, who has made 31 appearances for the U21s, says Rashford's finishing is on the same level as current first-choice England striker Kane, but thinks Rashford offers a different dimension with his pace.
"He is different to Saido Berahino, Harry Kane and Danny Ings," said Redmond. "All those players have different qualities that have got them to that level.
"Marcus has direct pace and his finishing is up there with some of the best I've seen for the Under-21s. He is the same as Kane and Berahino.
"Their finishing was incredible and Marcus is the same. He is just a normal kid, a typical 18-year-old who loves his football and he's fitted in well."
