three weeks after making his senior début for united in early 2016, rashford made his first appearance for the england under-20 team, providing an assist for kasey palmer in a 2–1 defeat to canada under-20s. despite already making his senior début earlier in the year, rashford was called up to the england under-21 team for the first time in august 2016 for a fixture in september against norway under-21s. he scored a hat-trick in the 6–1 home victory over norway in his only appearance for the team, scoring the third with a penalty, his first since turning professional. under-21 manager gareth southgate praised rashford for his humility in dropping down to under-21 level.