Last season Marcus Rashford struck 21 goals for Manchester United, while playing on with a series of injuries.
While this caught up with him at the end of the season, Rashford gave his all and was often one of United’s better performers.
The same can’t be said this season. Rashford has now gone 10 games without a goal, and has just three this season to date.
Former United star Rio Ferdinand says he is puzzled by Rashford’s loss of form and says he feels he is both out of excuses, and has lost his spark.
Ferdinand said on YouTube: “How are we going to get a fiery hungry Rashford we saw when he burst onto the scene? I haven’t seen that Rashford for weeks, for a few months now.
“His excuse before and fair enough he was carrying an injury a shoulder injury, so you give him benefit of the doubt.
“But since he’s come back, his body language, he hasn’t looked like the Marcus we fell in love with and we all love, that someone who’s aggressive, runs at people, and every time he gets it he wants to hurt the oppisiton.
“I’ve not seen that, I want to see that.”
No longer the main man
There are a couple of areas where Rashford could be struggling. One of which is the change in system, with United abandoning the 4-2-3-1.
In this formation, Rashford had a regular spot and knew his role. Lately we have seen him deployed as a striker as one of two forwards, and as an attacking midfielder. Neither have worked.
The other aspect is the Cristiano Ronaldo factor, with Rashford potentially feeling intimidated by the arrival of United’s iconic number seven.
Rashford seemed to flourish under Solskjaer when he was the main man, when United depended on him. Now it is Ronaldo who is the focal point of United’s attacks.
It seems as though Rashford is struggling to find his place, in the system, and in the hierarchy at United. He’s gone from being the key man, to playing a supporting role, and he seems to be struggling with this change.
One way or another, Rashford needs to find a way through it. United are a better team with a fully firing Rashford. A goal or two is well overdue.
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