England national team head coach Gareth Southgate has sent out a stern warning to Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho ahead of the FIFA World Cup later this year.

Southgate has warned the Manchester United duo that they might not get selected for the Qatar event. The players were part of the Manchester United squad that had an underwhelming season, finishing sixth on the log.

Rashford scored five goals in all competitions and was regularly struck off the starting eleven by interim manager Ralf Rangnick. Sancho meanwhile didn’t have a perfect debut in Manchester after joining them last summer from Borussia Dortmund.

They were subsequently dropped from England’s squad that is currently playing in the UEFA Nations League. And with only less than five months to the tournament, BBC reports that Southgate doesn’t fancy Rashford’s and Sancho’s chances of making it to Qatar.

Embattled Harry Maguire was the only player from United to get a call-up and with United’s participation in the UEFA Europa League next season, Southgate was asked whether it would be ideal for Rashford and Sancho to be fresher for the World Cup.

Well, look, I think the lower the load then of course the less likely for injuries and the hope that players can be that little bit sharper but there’s no way of knowing.

Some players are at their best when they’re in a rhythm of playing and you talk to some of our lads now and they want to play every game because that’s how they feel they get to their best level.

England will face Iran, Wales and the United States of America in Group B at the World Cup. They are currently struggling in the Nations League with the Three Lions yet to win any game in their opening three games. They face Hungary on Tuesday.