1/4 ground duels won and 65% pass completion rate: Erik ten Hag must drop Man United star after Newcastle horror show

Add as preferred source on Google

Marcus Rashford looked on with a solemn look on his face but the Manchester United winger could have no complaints over the decision.

Erik ten Hag made the decision not too long after Anthony Gordon had given Newcastle United the lead at St James but, truth be told, he should have made the change sooner.

Manchester United star Marcus Rashford, who scored 30 goals last season, looked far from his best in another frustrating performance from the Red Devils forward.

Rashford looked furious coming off but the Englishman had to be removed, he was abysmal for the Red Devils in the 1-0 defeat.

Rashford’s horror show

There was a moment in the second half that summed up the winger’s struggle. Tino Livramento was marauding down the left-hand side for Howe’s side, Rashford was tracking the right-back but gave up when the former Southampton defender got past him.

It was a moment that drew the ire of Ten Hag and the Dutchman had little choice but to remove the 30-goal forward from the game.

Alejandro Garnacho looked to be the only attacker who looked like he could cause the Newcastle defence problems.

According to the Englishman’s SofaScore statistics, the winger won just 25 per cent of his ground duels and Rashford did not look up to the task of performing in Tyneside.

He also completed just 65 per cent of his attempted passes and did not look like a threat for the Red Devils at all.

Ten Hag’s decision

The Dutchman looks to have a big decision on his hands and the correct move for the former Ajax boss to make would be to drop Rashford.

Garnacho has come in on the left and has looked dangerous in all of the games he has featured in but the same can’t be said of Rashford.

Ten Hag could bring Antony back into the side and did seem a strange decision to not start the Brazilian at St James Park.

Facundo Pellistri, who has been in and out of the United team, could be given a chance to try and claim a permanent spot in the first team after a brief spell in the starting lineup in September.

One thing is clear, however, Rashford needs to be taken out of the team.