Marcus Rashford looks a player who has been completely transformed for Manchester United this season.
The England international has been battling issues with fitness and confidence dating back to before he missed his Euro 2020 final penalty.
But he finally looks free of those problems and is contributing goals and assists in Erik ten Hag’s new-look United side.
The Athletic have reported on Rashford’s improvement and note that United staff think he is completely different to six months ago under Ralf Rangnick.
Rashford has been transformed
United insiders think Rashford came back for pre-season with a point to prove and he did a personal boot camp at Nike headquarters in Oregon before Ten Hag’s first summer in charge.
He has had niggles this season – one which kept him out of Thursday night’s starting XI against Real Sociedad – but he is free from the back and shoulder problems he played through under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
After last season’s 4-1 Manchester derby loss, there was talk of Rashford leaving the club but that has all been put to bed, despite his contract situation remaining unresolved.
United coaches were impressed by Rashford’s workrate and willingness to compete in training under Ten Hag, taking in the Dutchman’s demands for discipline and punctuality.
Rashford still has plenty to work on, and he could have been more clinical in front of goal at times this season.
If he gets that right, his numbers will fly up into the next level in terms of forwards across Europe and he will be spoken about in those terms.
This United team looks like it will create chances for Rashford, whether he plays on the left or through the middle, stretching opponents.
Rashford seems happier compared to recent seasons and that is being reflected in his confidence, and Ian Wright recently called him ‘unstoppable‘.
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