Marcus Rashford's Role at Manchester United: A Great Asset
Harry Maguire insists Marcus Rashford is ready to play a major role for Manchester United this season, describing the forward as “a great asset” after his eye-catching return to the Premier League starting XI.
Rashford made his first league start for United in 21 months in the 5-2 win over Ipswich at Old Trafford, and looked like the old threat again – direct, dangerous, constantly involved.
Not long ago, his United future looked finished. A fallout with former boss Ruben Amorim pushed him out on loan to Aston Villa and then Barcelona. The Catalan club had the option to make the move permanent for £26m and, for a time, it seemed that would be his escape route. They walked away. The window closes on Tuesday night and, barring a late twist, Rashford will stay at his boyhood club.
Maguire is adamant that can be a blessing for United.
“He's a great talent,” the defender said. “He's always a threat.
“If Marcus wants to be here, wants to work, wants to improve and help the team, of course we're willing to have him in the team.
“He could still do a lot more and I think he'll say he can do more but if we keep him fit, we keep him happy, he keeps driven and hungry, he's a great asset to have.”
The noise around Rashford has rarely been quiet. Even during Erik ten Hag’s tenure, his work-rate, his commitment, even his love for the game were questioned. Every off-day felt like another exhibit in the case against him.
Time away changed the picture. Under Unai Emery at Aston Villa and Hansi Flick at Barcelona, Rashford rediscovered sharpness and structure. Now he returns to a United side led by Michael Carrick, a head coach who knows him, his game and his personality as well as anyone inside the club.
“You've got to remember Marcus has had a wonderful career for this club,” Maguire said.
“But when you play at this club for numerous years, there's going to be bad seasons, and when the bad seasons come everyone piles on you. That's part and parcel of playing for this club.
“As a club, we haven't been perfect from top to bottom. We haven't been challenging at the top end. So, Marcus has been part of a rough ride for Manchester United.
“When that happens, players get dug out. I've been through it.”
Maguire’s words carry weight. He knows what it is to be on the brink of the exit door, stripped of the captaincy and his starting place under Ten Hag, only to fight his way back.
“He's come back in, really fit and sharp and we're excited to have him,” he added.
Carrick has spoken of Rashford as “like a new signing”, a phrase that fits the mood around Old Trafford. The manager has already shown he can revive careers, having rejuvenated midfielder Kobbie Mainoo after the youngster struggled for opportunities under Amorim. Now he must lift Mainoo again after England boss Thomas Tuchel left him unused at the World Cup.
Mainoo, like Rashford, started against Ipswich. United went behind, but the midfielder grew into the contest and ended it looking every inch a long-term pillar of the side.
“I thought he was brilliant,” Maguire said.
“To say he hasn't had many minutes in pre-season, he was magnificent.
“His work without the ball has improved so much since Michael's been in. He's becoming a real monster in there, wins a lot of second balls and a lot of duels.
“The thing is he's so young. If we want him to play for this club for another 10 years, there's going to be times where he's going to go through a patch like I spoke about with Rashy and myself.
“But that's part and parcel. He's really level-headed, really composed and has great belief in his ability.
“He's going to be a magnificent player for this club for many years.”
United now stand at an intriguing crossroads. Rashford, once seemingly on his way out, and Mainoo, just beginning his journey, are being handed the chance to shape what comes next. The question is no longer whether they belong at Old Trafford – it’s how far they can take the club from here.
