Jamie O’Hara has SLAMMED Manchester United and insists they are to blame for Marcus Rashford’s huge injury blow that could see him out for at least six weeks.

Rashford has been sidelined with a stress fracture to his back – the same problem O’Hara suffered with during his playing days.

The former Tottenham man says the England striker may never be the same player again, and it’s all down to his club’s mismanagement.

Getty Images - Getty 3 Rashford’s injury meant he was unable to play against Liverpool on Sunday, as United suffered a 2-0 defeat at Anfield

O’Hara, who described it as a ‘terrible injury’, eventually needed major survey to fix his problem, having two screws and a rod inserted into his spine, and was kept on the sidelines for NINE MONTHS to recover.

Ex-United striker Robin van Persie also had the same issue during his career, keeping him out for four months, and has said it has remained a weak spot for him, even now after retirement.

Rashford suffered his injury during United’s FA Cup third round replay win over Wolves, but it was entirely preventable.

The striker – who has played almost every game for his club this season, scoring 19 goals in 31 appearances – started on the bench but was brought on in the second-half.

However, he left the pitch just 15 minutes later after hurting his back.

Getty Images - Getty 3 Marcus Rashford has been Manchester United’s best player this season and he will be a huge miss

And O’Hara says United should have done more to protect their star player, and has also taken aim at Ole Gunner Solskjaer.

“For me, Manchester United have not protected him – they’ve put him in danger of not being the same player,” he said on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast.

“I had the same problem because I overplayed. I was on loan at Portsmouth and having aches and pains, but I kept playing and ended up doing both sides. I had a double stress fracture, which Rashford has now got, and I was out for nine months.

“It’s a terrible injury because you literally can’t do anything, he’s just going to have to rest for three months until that heals.

“It’s really poor from Man United in terms of how they’ve dealt with that injury.

“I’m so disappointed. For a club not to protect a young player like Rashford with an injury they must have known he had, and let it get to the point where he then does the other side, it’s absolutely suicidal.

Glen Johnson says Man United made a 'huge error' by bringing on 'burnt out' Marcus Rashford in the FA Cup

“After this injury you’re never the same because it’s a place in your back where you’re always loading your spine.

“I still go for walks now and after ten minutes I have to sit down for five, because it never goes back to how it was.

“For Rashford to play at the elite level they’ve got to really, really protect him, and they haven’t. A club like Manchester United should be getting the best advice and protect their players – especially Rashford who is their best player.

“So to let him down to the point where he’s now got that injury, it’s so bad. I don’t think you don’t realise how bad that is.”

O’Hara also believes the whole incident with Rashford’s injury proves why Paul Pogba is right to seek external help whenever he is recovering from injury.

“We moaned at Pogba,” said the ex-midfielder.

“I dug Pogba out, saying he should be at the training ground, he should be with the physios, why are you going off to have your own physio etc.

“But now we know why – they aren’t good enough!

AFP or licensors 3 Pogba was criticised for flying to America to receive treatment and start rehab for his recent ankle injury, rather than stay at United

“Marcus Rashford is a young lad who wants to play for Man United – I’d play with a broken back to play for Man United – but there comes a point where the club and the medical staff have to step in and say ‘you need to rest – you’re going to make this worse. You’re damaging you back more than it needs to be and we need to take you out’.

“Ole Gunanr Solskjaer has not been strong enough to say, ‘Marcus, you need to step out for a bit because this is only going to get worse and you’re going to damage your career’.”