Erik ten Hag has urged Marcus Rashford to use the example of Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay as he looks to regain form and favour at Manchester United.
Rashford has endured a disappointing start to the campaign and has scored just twice in 14 Premier League appearances. The 26-year-old was named Manchester United’s Player of the Season in 2022/23, having become the first player to score 30 goals in a season for the club in a decade, but has struggled to reproduce that form.
The England international was dropped for the 2-1 win over Chelsea in midweek, following a poor performance at Newcastle last weekend.
Speaking on Rashford’s recent performances, Ten Hag admitted he was performing below expectations but emphasised his faith in the forward to rediscover his form.
“Rashford is an incredibly good player. You can’t do it with XI players and he can’t play in every game. He is not in the form he was last year, but I am sure he will get back,” Ten Hag said at his pre-match press conference ahead of facing Bournemouth.
Asked what Rashford needs to do to get back into the side, Ten Hag pointed to the examples of Maguire and McTominay, who have emerged as central figures in recent weeks.
“I said the same thing about Scott McTominay and Harry Maguire, it is up to them. Every week, the team will line up in training and the best players will form the best team and they will play.”
McTominay scored both goals in the win over Chelsea and is now United’s leading scorer this season (6). Ten Hag said he has been impressed with the Scotland international’s quality inside the penalty box.
“From the first moment, I saw he has a very good smell in the box. He is a very good finisher. That is not a surprise to us. The way we want to play him in the position so we can get the balls in there, [we know] he will finish.”
