Marcus Rashford is continuing to prove his critics wrong after a remarkable turnaround in his Manchester United form.
Last season was arguably the most difficult of the 25-year-old’s career to date, scoring just five goals across 32 appearances in all competitions. That loss of form saw him dropped from the United starting line-up and left out of an England squad in March 2022.
But under Erik ten Hag, Rashford is playing the best football of his life, with his goal against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday his 10th in as many games. He now has 18 goals this season, just four off his best ever tally with half of the campaign left to play.
Ten Hag labelled the United forward as “unstoppable” in his current guise and singled him out for praise. “There are more players who are playing really well but I am happy with Marcus, his performance and his development,” the Dutchman said.
“From the start of the season he is growing and keeps doing that. We have to keep his process going and if he is in that mood and spirit, I think he is unstoppable. It is up to the team to get him in the right positions.”
Rashford has quickly assumed the role of talismanic forward which was left vacant following the acrimonious departure of Cristiano Ronaldo. In truth, he had taken that mantle well before the 37-year-old swapped the Premier League for the Saudi pro League.
But prior to Ronaldo’s arrival, Rashford was being pitted against another veteran striker, with Edinson Cavani making an immediate impact following his move in 2020. Signed initially to deputise for the club’s younger forwards, Cavani found his way into the starting line-up, scoring 17 times.
And it was after one of his 10 Premier League strikes when Paul Pogba claimed the Uruguayan was ‘levels above’ his competition - including Rashford. "Everybody knows that Edi is a top-class striker and there’s few strikers like this in the world, and we had the chance to have one," Pogba said in January 2021.
"We know the hardest goals are those goals. We have talented players – Anthony Martial, Rashy, they can shoot from outside and stuff – but they don’t have this, the experience of Edi, and they don’t have the same quality of Edi as well.
"So I think we complete each other with the players we have in front and Edi can obviously show his class like he did today. Those goals that we needed, at the right time, he’s always there at the right time and the right moment to help the team to win."
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer clearly agreed to a certain extent, penning El Matador to a 12-month contract extension. That quickly backfired though, with the 35-year-old plagued by injury issues before leaving on a free last summer.
Rashford may have stepped up his game in recent months, but the signs have always been there that he was at least on a par with the former Napoli star. Pogba didn’t seem to see that fact, but could yet get a first-hand glimpse if both United and Juventus reach the latter stages of the Europa League.
