TalkSPORT presenter Darren Bent has dropped his two cents on a viral training video featuring Manchester United and England star Marcus Rashford.
Marcus Rashford was in the form of his life in Erik ten Hag’s debut season at Old Trafford, with the Manchester United star scoring 30 times across all competitions.
Following his successful 2022-23 season, the 26-year-old United forward inked a new long-term deal with the Premier League club.
However, Rashford’s form fell off a cliff in the 2023-24 campaign and the United star netted only eight times in 43 appearances across all competitions.
The England international’s lack of consistency cost Rashford his place in the Three Lions’ squad for Euro 2024 in Germany in the summer.
Bent on Rashford and training video
Marcus Rashford regularly featured for Manchester United during the pre-season tour in the summer after missing out on Euro 2024.
Erik ten Hag has kept faith with the Three Lions star for the current Premier League campaign, but Rashford has largely disappointed for United so far.
Rashford has failed to score or register a single assist in all three of United’s opening Premier League matches of the season.
The England forward was also met with fierce criticism last month over his missed chances in the penalty shootout defeat to Manchester City in the Community Shield.
Rashford recently shared a training video of him doing intense drills after being left out of the England squad again for the September international break.
Speaking on TalkSPORT, Darren Bent welcomed Rashford’s attitude and approach to training amid the wave of criticism that the United star has received.
However, the 40-year-old former striker was puzzled by Rashford’s extra need to train when United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy is already there to support him.
“It shows that he is obviously putting the work in, trying to improve, trying to get better,” Bent said.
“The only thing I found a bit bizarre was every day at work, training, he’s working with one of the best centre-forwards the Premier League has ever seen in Ruud van Nistelrooy.
“What better guidance is there than doing that? I am hoping what Marcus is doing is extra as working with Ruud when obviously he’s at Manchester United.”
Van Nistelrooy and Rashford at Man Utd
Ruud van Nistelrooy made his sensational return to Old Trafford this summer after he was confirmed as part of Ten Hag’s coaching staff for the 2024-25 season.
Ten Hag has previously said that Van Nistelrooy, who is an assistant manager at United, can make a seismic impact on the likes of Rashford.
“That is a reason why he [Van Nistelrooy] is here, but not only for the strikers,” he said in July, as per Manchester United’s official website.
“He is much more than this. But Rashford can only prove himself, and he is capable of it.
“He has scored so many goals already at a relatively young age. So, he’s capable of it. So, I’m confident and 100 per cent believe he can do the same as two years ago.”
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