Marcus Rashford was again on the money on Thursday night as he hammered home his 29th goal of the season.
The Manchester United star has produced the best goalscoring season of his career with his form post World Cup putting him among the best players in Europe. He has spearheaded an attack that has continued to look to him for big moments, with the academy graduate often delivering.
At Tottenham his excellent finish saw him close in on the 30-goal mark, which would make him the first United player since Robin van Persie to do so. The Dutchman's goals all but secured the title for the Red Devils in Sir Alex Ferguson's final year at Old Trafford.
The Dutchman was prolific and, despite some big names arriving at Old Trafford, no one has been able to match those numbers since. Rashford now looks certain to emulate Van Persie with several games remaining in the campaign.
He's taken on the mantle of being United's No 9, despite some believing he is best when operating from out wide, and performed impressively. Regularly sitting on the last man and stretching defences, which helped him set club records for goals in consecutive games earlier this season.
The Dutchman hailed Rashford's exploits earlier this season as he told the club's website : "Yeah, you can see he’s having maybe the best form of his life. The way he plays, he looks very fit. He looks very focused.
"He looks to have fun. He’s on a mission now. Everyone knew from an early age, because he broke through from a very early age, everyone knew how good of a player he was - and still is of course - but now you see that everything clicks, and that is partly down to him, but as well a coach, and, as well, your team-mates.
"If you look at the connection he has with Fernandes for example, that is something unique. You only have that connection with a few players throughout your career. And he has that now. He is like going from strength to strength."
Rashford and Van Persie never crossed paths in the first-team with the Dutchman exiting the club shortly before the United No 10 burst onto the scene with a Europa League hat-trick in 2016. Rashford will have seen the former Arsenal man perform impressively though whilst he was in the youth ranks.
Last term the 25-year-old looked a shadow of the player he once was, but has built steadily through the campaign to hit top gear in recent months.
Erik ten Hag commented recently: “He has progressed during the season. Marcus was also not in the best shape when he started the season. But the way of playing gives him a base, then he brings his skills in and his attitude and mentality and that is bringing him a lot of progress."
