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- Masood says Pakistan need stability after famous England win
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- Santner heroics seal historic New Zealand Test series win in India
- Brignone wins ski World Cup opener as Shiffrin flops
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- Israel hits Iran military sites in retaliatory strikes
- Santner heroics seal New Zealand's first Test series win in India
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- Stokes says Pakistan spin duo just too good after series defeat
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- Late Love helps All Blacks thrash Jones's plucky Japan
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- New Zealand near historic Test win as India wilt in chase
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- Pakistan thrash England to win series after Noman, Sajid heroics
- Harris, Trump barnstorm battlegrounds seeking to break deadlock
- Pakistan on brink of series win as Noman, Sajid destroy England
- India 81-1 in fight to deny New Zealand historic series win
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- New Zealand sniff historic win as India set 359 to win Test
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- Israel hits Iran missiles, bases in retaliatory strikes
- Freeman slam lifts Dodgers over Yankees in World Series thriller
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- Georgia votes in crucial test for democracy, EU ambitions
- Beyonce boosts Harris at abortion rights rally in Texas
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- Myanmar's war approaches Mandalay a year after rebel offensive
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- Turkish Cypriots caught in citizenship limbo on divided island
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- World champion Sakamoto takes Skate Canada lead over Liu
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- Three moments from King Charles Pacific tour
Man Utd 'have to back' struggling Rashford, says Ten Hag
Erik ten Hag said Friday he has a "lot of sympathy" for Marcus Rashford as the Manchester United manager demanded support for his misfiring forward.
The 26-year-old scored a career-high 30 goals last season and was rewarded with a new deal until 2028, but his form has since slumped dramatically.
Rashford has managed just eight goals in 40 appearances for his boyhood club during the current campaign and fans booed him in last Sunday's FA Cup semi-final win against Coventry.
The England international, writing in the Players' Tribune in February, said: "If you back me, good. If you doubt me, even better."
But responding to a post on X that called the treatment of Rashford "absolutely disgusting", "cruel" and "abuse", the United forward said: "I appreciate your support! It is abuse and has been for months. Enough is enough."
Ten Hag, speaking at his pre-match press conference, said he empathised with Rashford's plight.
"Last year he had a brilliant season. I think the best season in his career, he scored 30 goals, so there you see where he's capable of," the Dutch coach said.
"This season he didn't give the performances and then people are very critical, and I think we have to back him.
"Everyone should back him and push him to get back to the levels he was last year."
Rashford, who missed the 4-2 win against Sheffield United in midweek, will again be unavailable when injury-hit United host second-bottom Burnley on Saturday.
Ten Hag's men, aiming to qualify for European football next season, are sixth in the Premier League table.
Asked if he is expecting to have two regular centre-backs available for the game, Ten Hag said with a resigned laugh: "No. Same squad apart from Mason Mount. He will return into the squad."
With Victor Lindelof, Raphael Varane, Willy Kambwala, Jonny Evans and Lisandro Martinez still absent, Casemiro is set to start as makeshift centre-back again.
But Ten Hag expects Martinez to be back for a run-in that concludes with the FA Cup final against Manchester City, along with long-term absentees Luke Shaw and Anthony Martial.
"I think we are going to see them in this season," he said of the trio. "They returned, all three, onto the pitch."
G.Stevens--AMWN