Marcus Rashford's Struggles at Manchester United: A Concern for Owen
Marcus Rashford cut a lonely figure at Craven Cottage. Not just on the ball, but in everything from his body language to his end product. And Michael Owen has had enough.
The former Manchester United striker, speaking on Premier League Productions after the 1-1 draw with Fulham, laid bare his concern. Rashford has started four of United’s five Premier League games since returning from loan spells at Aston Villa and Barcelona. More than 400 minutes played. No goals. No assists.
For a player of his profile, that drought is only part of the story.
“He just doesn’t seem to be loving his football”
Owen’s main criticism wasn’t about numbers. It was about what he saw in Rashford’s demeanour.
“On the left, Marcus Rashford has been probably the quietest of those attackers,” Owen said. “He was quiet again today in his body language, just the glum face. He just doesn’t seem to be loving his football which has been a permanent frustration with Marcus.”
The talent has never been in doubt. The mood has.
Owen questioned how a player with Rashford’s attributes can look so burdened on the pitch.
“It does look like the weight of the world is on his shoulders and you just think how? Why? He’s living everybody’s dream. Surely there’s something behind the scenes that is making him look as if he’s not enjoying his football at the moment,” he added.
For Owen, that disconnect between ability and expression is what stings most. Rashford has the pace, the power, the technique. What he doesn’t have right now is rhythm, confidence, or consistency.
Barcelona spell under the microscope
Owen also revisited Rashford’s recent adventure in Spain. The move to Barcelona, he suggested, was a huge opportunity – and a warning.
“Last chance saloon was Barcelona. I couldn’t believe his luck in getting a team like Barcelona,” Owen said. “He does reasonably well out there, but not well enough for them to keep him and then they end up spending fortunes to replace him by buying Anthony Gordon. So, it wasn’t all perfect. It wasn’t all rosy despite any spin that people put on it.”
Rashford did enough to show he can operate at that level. He didn’t do enough to convince Barcelona to build around him. That verdict, for Owen, still hangs over the forward as he tries to re-establish himself at Old Trafford.
The weak link in United’s front line?
Back at Manchester United, the competition for places has intensified. Owen believes Rashford’s spot is now the most at risk in the front three.
“And then he comes back to Manchester United. He’s done okay, but only okay,” Owen said. “And he needs to probably do a little bit better in that front three because his is the position in the attack that would be vulnerable.”
The pressure is not just external. There is a push for change.
“There’s a bit of a demand for Benjamin Sesko to come back in and start, injury permitting of course. But if that happens, Cunha is going to go on the left and Rashford would be the weak link in that attack as things stand.”
In other words, the margin for error has shrunk. If Sesko is fit and Cunha shifts wide, Rashford’s name is no longer guaranteed on the teamsheet.
Injury setback and a looming challenge
As if the scrutiny wasn’t enough, Rashford now has an injury to contend with. A hip issue forced him off in the second half at Craven Cottage, cutting short another muted display.
The problem rules him out of England’s upcoming Nations League fixtures against Spain, Czechia, and Croatia over the next three weeks. A stage on which he might have tried to reset his season has been taken away.
So the task changes. Recovery first. Then a reboot.
When he returns to full fitness, Manchester United must find a way to relight the spark that once made Rashford their most dangerous forward. Because if they can’t, the question stops being about his form.
It starts being about his future in this team.
