Man Utd clash against hated rivals free to air on ITV and could see Rashford return for first time in nearly two years

TWO England World Cup stars could make their Manchester United returns on Wednesday in one of the country’s fiercest grudge matches. The Red Devils’ clash against Leeds could have an additional spark if Marcus Rashford plays his first Man Utd game since 2024. Rashford could be in line for a remarkable return to his boyhood club after a 2024-25 bust up Credit: PA The 28-year-old will return to training before Wednesday’s bitter rivalry Credit: AFP Rashford and Mainoo are set to arrive at the club’s Irish training camp on August 10 ahead of the rivalry soaked encounter at Dublin‘s Croke Park. The England pair have been recuperating for three weeks as per Fifa recommendations after the Three Lions’ third place finish at the World Cup. Sign up for the Man United newsletter Thank you! If Rashford does appear in the heated fixture – which will be free to air on ITV – it would complete one of the most remarkable homecomings in recent football history. The 28-year-old last played for Man Utd over 600 days ago. After making 25 goal contributions for Barcelona last season and repeatedly saying he wanted to remain with the LaLiga champions, Rashford’s future away from Old Trafford seemed certain. However, the Catalan giants refused to trigger Rashford’s relatively modest £26m release clause, and no other team has been willing to entertain his lucrative wage bill as of yet. Despite spending the past year and a half out on loan, Rashford remains the Red Devil’s highest earner, netting a lucrative £325k a week. The England winger’s relationship with his boyhood club blew up in the winter of 2024-25. Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS A high profile rift with Ruben Amorim led the then manager to declare he would rather play a 63-year-old goalkeeping coach over Rashford. However, the forward has fonder memories of current coach Michael Carrick. Rashford scored 32 times during two and a half seasons alongside club legend Carrick, and there will be hopes he can start a fresh chapter under his former teammate. Man Utd’s feisty preseason fixture against Leeds will be the first football match at 82,000 capacity Croke Park in over a decade. The iconic rivalry will follow another spicy friendly for the Red Devils, who take on back-to-back European Champions PSG this Saturday. Comment now