Marcus Rashford: When flying Man United loanee will return to action after missing last two games

Barcelona’s rejuvenated loan star Marcus Rashford will not be available for Sunday’s meeting with Levante UD as he continues to recover from the knee complaint that has already sidelined him for back-to-back defeats against Atlético Madrid and Girona, sources have confirmed.

The 28-year-old, who has reignited his career in Catalonia with 10 goals and 13 assists in 34 appearances, was forced to watch from the treatment room as Hansi Flick’s side slipped to a 4-0 reverse at the Metropolitano before succumbing 2-1 to Girona, results that have underlined Rashford’s importance to the Blaugrana’s attacking blueprint.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, medical staff are targeting next week for the England forward’s return, meaning the earliest Rashford could rejoin first-team training is after the weekend. The timeline leaves the club hopeful he will be passed fit for the visit of high-flying Villarreal, currently third in the table and exceeding pre-season expectations.

Barcelona had explored the possibility of negotiating down the £26 million purchase option agreed with Manchester United last summer, but INEOS, overseeing football operations at Old Trafford, have refused to budge. United insiders, buoyed by Rashford’s renaissance, believe the winger’s valuation could have approached £50 million had he been put up for sale on the back of his current form.

Flick, meanwhile, must now prepare for Levante without his on-loan talisman, conscious that any further slip-ups could dent Champions League qualification hopes before the business end of the campaign kicks in.