It felt as though Marcus Rashford was on the brink of no return at Manchester United last season - but Erik ten Hag's arrival has provided the United academy graduate with the fresh start he so desperately needed.
After missing the start of last year's Premier League campaign due to shoulder surgery, Rashford was always playing catch-up. But unfortunately, he failed to replicate the blistering form that had made him one of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's go-to players before things turned sour for the Norwegian.
In fact, Rashford managed just five goals in all competitions for United last term. And when you also factor in that Rashford was snubbed by interim chief Ralf Rangnick for the Manchester derby back in March - even though United had no other senior strikers available - it's easy to see why Rashford was reportedly considering his Old Trafford future.
But the 24-year-old has fought back in style to salvage his Manchester United career under Ten Hag. Rashford has made the most of his chance to play centrally in his favoured No.9 position and has rewarded the Dutchman with three goals and two assists so far this term.
His recent form has stirred memories of the instant impact he made after bursting on the scene at Old Trafford back in 2016 - and it has even seen him rewarded with the Premier League's Player of the Month award for September.
The fact that Rashford is currently flourishing as a No.9 will not be lost on his former boss Jose Mourinho, who previously insisted that the United man was not suitable to play as a striker for a club like Manchester United.
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And although Mourinho did hint that he would be open to using Rashford centrally as part of a more pragmatic approach, he made it clear that he viewed the England ace as a wide forward rather than a No.9.
Speaking back in 2019, Mourinho said: "I am not going to say he cannot ever be a number nine, he can be a dangerous number nine especially if the opposition is not pragmatic, is not close and is giving spaces to attack. He can be dangerous in transitions.
"But when Manchester United is a team that normally plays against teams who go to Old Trafford, close the door, bring the bus, bring the double bus, he is not a striker to play with his back to the goal. He is not the target man, he doesn’t score as many goals as a striker should do. So I think from the side you will get him to numbers of 10-12 goals per season.
"He is very professional, he works for the team, he understands what you tell him to do from the defensive point of view. Playing from the sides he can be a very good player, probably better than at nine. But he feels he is a number nine and I think the club and the manager feel he is."
