If there’s a certain young man that has burst onto the scene in the Premier League over the past couple of months, it’s Marcus Rashford.
His astronomical rise from the fringes of the Manchester United to the first-team, to the Euros out in France has been some story and if there isn’t a film-maker thinking about making a movie about Rashford’s rise, there might be if his story continues.
Time and time again the young striker reminds us why Louis van Gaal fast-tracked him into the first-team and although he’s been used a little more sparingly by new manager Mourinho, he still shines when given the chance on the big stage.
Take United’s last gasp win against Hull City this weekend.
Rashford was making his first appearance of the season as he attempted to break up the striking partnership of Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who look to be a huge part of the United set up this season.
Whilst Rooney and the former PSG man had chances, it was academy scholar Rashford who broke the deadlock in the 92nd minute, to send the thousands of United fans at the KC Stadium crazy. He is their prodigy and you wouldn’t have heard a louder cheer in your life when Rashford’s name was read out at the end of the game.
But what strikes many is just how comfortable he is on the ball, running at players. It’s like he’s a Premier Leave veteran- he glides round players like a dancer, in a way that should be way beyond his years.
What is completely undoubtable about Rashford is that he will serve to make United a better team as a whole. Not just his intrinsic ability but to remind his fellow colleagues and ultimately, his competitors that if they drop in form, he will be chomping at the bit, ready for the first-team.
It’s going to be a tough season the 18-year-old, who may be eased into the action a little more by Mourinho than by former manager Van Gaal but it’s clear the former Real Madrid boss holds him in high regards.
You can tell Jose likes someone when it’s not an ego match, when nothing but praise comes from his lips in post match interviews. It’s a simple relationship and one that works too- it’s more of an old fashioned manager-player relationship from back in the day and it really works.
The job for Rashford this season isn’t to score 30 goals, nor to dominate the headlines in the way Zlatan Ibrahimovic will. It will be to remind United’s top bosses that he’s there, ready and willing to play. And most importantly, that he can step up when needed.
It’s almost like footballing school again. Making the step up from year six to year seven seamlessly. Rashford’s had his induction, now its time to go to big school.
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