BREAKING: Confirmation of the return date for the 161-goal striker to Manchester United!

Marcus Rashford is poised to rejoin Manchester United following a 19-month hiatus, with his return possible in the pre-season friendly against Leeds ahead of the upcoming campaign.

Marcus Rashford is nearing his first appearance for Manchester United since December 2024, ending a 19-month stretch without playing for the Old Trafford club.

Rashford's last outing for Manchester United came during an away match against Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League in December 2024. Since then, the English striker has moved on loan to Aston Villa and then Barcelona, leaving his future at his boyhood club uncertain.

During his time in Spain, Rashford expressed a desire to stay at Barcelona. However, the Catalan club did not activate the £26 million buy option, meaning the player must return to Manchester United in the summer of 2026.

After helping England advance deep into the 2026 World Cup, Rashford was granted a longer holiday than many of his teammates. According to the plan, he is expected to join the Manchester United squad when the team travels to the Republic of Ireland starting on August 9.

This means Rashford will miss the Red Devils' earlier friendlies against Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. The 28-year-old striker's first chance to return likely comes on August 12, when Manchester United faces Leeds United at Croke Park.

If manager Michael Carrick decides not to use Rashford in the Leeds match to give him more time to regain fitness, the next opportunity will be the final pre-season friendly against AC Milan.

This clash will hold special significance for Rashford, as AC Milan is now managed by Ruben Amorim, the coach who dropped the English striker from the Manchester United squad in December 2024. After nearly two years of turbulence, Rashford could start fresh under Carrick.

Another issue to resolve is the squad number. Rashford was long associated with the number 10 shirt at Old Trafford, but that number now belongs to Matheus Cunha. The number 9 jersey is vacant after Rasmus Hojlund's departure, though Benjamin Sesko may be given the main striker's number.

In this context, the number 14 is the most notable option for Rashford. This was the shirt number he wore during his time at Barcelona.

Rashford's long-term future at Old Trafford remains uncertain, but for now he is ready to fully reintegrate into Michael Carrick's squad. If everything goes according to plan, the match against Leeds on August 12 could mark the first time fans see Rashford back in a Manchester United shirt since late 2024.