Gazza: Don't make same mistakes I did.. ask for some help

AS A football legend with his fair share of problems off the pitch, Paul Gascoigne is better placed than many to offer troubled Marcus Rashford sound advice.

- JEREMY ARMSTRONG

And the former Rangers midfielder yesterday sent a message of support to the 26-year-old Manchester United star after his bender in Belfast landed him a fine believed to be £650,000, or two weeks' wages.

But Gazza, who battled booze and injuries during his career, also warned.

Rashford not to go down the same road as him as he struggled to cope with being thrust into the limelight at just 21 when he signed for Spurs from Newcastle Utd for £2.2million in 1988.

The United striker went on a "12-hour tequila-fuelled" session in the Northern Ireland capital last week where he reportedly downed shots until the early hours of the morning.

Rashford also missed training on Friday, phoning in sick.

Former England player Gazza, 56, said: "I really like Marcus Rashford. He is my favourite England player.

"But you can tell things are just not right for him right now. "I would say to him, 'Don't make the same mistakes as me'.

"He may need the help of the players around him, the staff to bring him around. "Sometimes there are problems outside the game.

He is a great player, at a great club, playing for his country, and yet he doesn't seem happy.

"Obviously there is an issue with the manager and he doesn't even celebrate his goals in the same way.

"He is down, he is getting fined, like I was at Lazio, it is not easy being in the limelight. "When I was at Spurs, I found it so hard that I went to see a counsellor once a week, to talk my problems through.