Report: United played Rashford despite serious pre-existing injury

Manchester United were apparently aware of the severity of Marcus Rashford's back injury before the England international aggravated the ailment during a substitute appearance in an FA Cup third-round replay versus Wolves.

Rashford now has a double stress fracture in his back and could miss months, reports the Telegraph's James Ducker, rather than the "few weeks" that manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer suggested last week.

Former United striker Robin van Persie told Ducker that he once suffered a similar injury, which forced him to miss four months.

Rashford's pre-existing condition was severe enough that he struggled to remain seated during an interview with Ryan Giggs just days before the cup contest, Ducker reports.

Solskjaer has been widely maligned for the decision to introduce Rashford just after the hour mark of the victory, as the club's leading scorer was forced off 10 minutes from time after colliding with Matt Doherty.

Before missing the weekend defeat to Liverpool, Rashford had played in all 22 of United's previous league outings this season as the Red Devils suffered from a threadbare attack. Rashford, who appeared in eight matches over a 28-day span, has featured in more Premier League matches than any player since debuting in February 2016.

The club shipped forwards Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez to Inter in the summer but failed to fill the void left by the departing duo. Sanchez's Serie A loan reportedly does not include a clause that would permit an early recall in light of Rashford's injury.