Marcus Rashford scored his first goal of the season in Manchester United’s 2-1 win over Liverpool last August, and few expected him to score another 29 before the conclusion of the season.
The Reds academy graduate entered last season after a disappointing 2021/22 season in which he scored just five goals in all competitions. His future at United was at a crossroads, and speculation about a move abroad was not surprising.
Fortunately for United and Rashford, Erik ten Hag arrived on time, wrapped his arm around the 25-year-old, and made it obvious how crucial he would be in his plans. The England international began the season gradually, showing hints of his actual skills before erupting into life following the World Cup break.
His form immediately following the showcase event in Qatar made him one of the most in-form and lethal players on the planet at the moment. Everything he touched became a goal, and there was no stopping him.
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Ten Hag had resurrected his career, and he was playing with a grin on his face again, just months after some United fans had expressed genuine concern for his well-being due to the depths to which his performance levels had fallen. Rashford has unexpectedly emerged as United’s primary player, carrying the squad on his own at various points over the season.
That was surprising given that he began the season with Cristiano Ronaldo, 13 years his senior, and Anthony Martial, 27, beside him in attack. Ronaldo was still a senior icon in United’s attacking department, despite the fact that his days as a United player were short this time last year. He, of course, possessed accomplishments that Rashford and the rest of United’s squad could only wish for, making him the role model to emulate.
Rashford, on the other hand, developed in ways beyond anyone’s wildest hopes last season, perhaps due to a lack of expectation on his shoulders. Last season, you could have gotten long odds on the England star scoring 30 goals.
This season, however, the odds on the same feat may not be as attractive. Rashford will be expected to provide more than ever this season after his success in front of goal last season, despite United finally adding a striker to their ranks in the form of Rasmus Hojlund.
United signed the 20-year-old from Atalanta for an initial fee of £64 million last weekend, so he will be under pressure to start repaying United in goals once he has recovered from his injury. Once up and running, Hojlund will require the assistance and guidance of his teammates, particularly his attackers.
Hojlund was identified as United’s top striker target earlier this summer, after their hopes of signing Harry Kane from Tottenham Hotspur receded. If United had picked Kane, he would have been their most senior attacker, someone everyone looked up to.
Instead, Rashford bears the burden following the club’s decision to commit up to £72 million in Hojlund, who scored 10 goals in 34 outings for Atalanta last season. Though Martial is two years older than the Reds academy product, his inability to stay fit has resulted in Rashford becoming the club’s most credible forward.
This puts additional strain on Rashford’s shoulders. Not only will he be expected to build on his goal-laden season last season, but he will also be expected to support the likes of Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony, Amad and Hojlund, providing each of them someone to look up to and lean on for assistance and direction.
Rashford, who has had two contrasting seasons in the last two, must demonstrate that last season’s 30-goal total was not a fluke and that he can live up to even higher expectations. It adds even more pressure with a slew of even younger attackers joining forces with him in the closing third.
If Kane had checked in, Rashford would have been free to focus a little more on his own game, whereas Hojlund will almost probably need both time and support to get up to speed. Rashford’s role in the club has evolved, and he must now demonstrate his ability to handle it, both to Ten Hag and his teammates.
