MARCUS RASHFORD HAS the potential to be a “top, top” striker, says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with it only a matter of time before the Manchester United star joins the likes of Harry Kane at that level.
An Old Trafford academy graduate has never made any secret of the fact that he sees himself as a central frontman.
Others have not always viewed him as the right fit for such a role, with a succession of Red Devils and England managers having sought to make the most of his pace and direct running on the flanks.
Solskjaer has, however, moved the 21-year-old inside since succeeding Jose Mourinho and been rewarded for that show faith with a collection of impressive performances.
Rashford, who has been keeping £75 million (€83m) team-mate Romelu Lukaku out of the side, now has six goals and as many assists for 2018-19 and is being backed to take his game to even greater heights.
Interim United boss Solskjaer said of the youngster’s ability to be a leading man: “He’s got frightening pace, he’s now become stronger, he can hold the ball up for us and he’s a great link player.
“He can become a top, top one. We can talk about Harry Kane and his class, and I’m sure Marcus has got the potential to get up there. He’s been brought up here.
“There were a couple of sessions [while in Dubai] with the young kids, [Tahith] Chong, Angel [Gomes] and Jesse [Lingard], where they play together in a certain way. A very exciting player to work with.”
Rashford’s return to form under a coach prepared to back him appears to have brought an end to any questions regarding his future, having previously seen transfer talk sparked.
Solskjaer, though, is yet to determine whether he will be staying on at United past the end of the season, with the Norwegian – who has seen those at Molde claim that they are expecting him back – not giving too much thought to his options.
He said when quizzed on a possible extended stay in the Red Devils hot-seat: “We haven’t had that conversation.
“You don’t plan five or six months or whatever it was and then suddenly after two weeks change that.
“No, nothing has changed. We just keep on working every single day on improving the team here. I work with a fantastic coaching staff, I have to say, to put a plan together on how we want to look over the next few months.”
United’s next test, and the biggest of a spell under Solskjaer which has delivered five successive victories so far, is set to take them to fellow Premier League top-four hopefuls Tottenham tomorrow.
Ahead of a huge weekend of Heineken Champions Cup action, Murray Kinsella, Andy Dunne and Gavan Casey assess the provinces’ chances of putting a foot in the last eight:
Heineken Rugby Weekly on The42 / SoundCloud
He should be rediscovering his form & fitness with Munster not with the national team. Shouldn’t be a separate rule for him no matter how good he is at his best. Just lowers squad standards….
@ℝ: Who should be in the squad ahead of him, do you think? Marmion is barely back from injury and McGrath is still out for a few more weeks.
@Conor Matthews: Cooney and Blade, the two form Irish scrumhalves by a country mile… and especially for the Italy game. The pace the pair play is perfect for an ireland game to run Italy ragged, and test their fringe defences as unlike Murray both delight at sniping runs at defences. Cooney may be light on Caps but he has loads of experience having played for three provinces and excelled at all…
Yep, no sympathy for Murray or Sexton, thats 2 games they havent performed. Get in the queue and earn your places again boys. And this is why Joe should be rotating the squad more often. Like it was mentioned above, get your game time at the provinces…..and then bring that game to the national team, if youre good enough. Class is permanent, Joe says, yeah but who puts BOD (no disrespect meant) in at 13 these days. Form…form…form
@Trev: sexton was poor v England but he was running the game v Scotland until he got injured. We’d have won by 30 if he’d have stayed on.
@Chris Mc: complete tosh. Apart from the assist to stockdale sexton was bang average. Kicking out of hand was poor and his kick from the tee was embarrassing. He wasn’t as poor as Murray but don’t kid yourself if you think he’s in any better form. Last decent shift sexton put in was against NZ for club and country.
@Chris Mc: yes he got injured, is that your or my fault? No. As the saying goes……youre only as good as your last game. He’s had 2 now, & so has Murray. There is plenty of class waiting in the wings (but thats another discussion)…
Just re-read the headline, that is just pish! Either he can play at the highest level or…he cant. Simple until he gets back up there. But do not waste international minutes on him on the off-chance that he is going to take another 10 or so games to rediscover his form. Same with Sexton….Joe its time to start cracking the whip!!!
@Trev: I think Joe Schmidt will start Sexton and Murray.I also think he should
I’d really like to see the other players get a chance to prove their worth under pressure. What is going to happen in the RWC if a key member gets injured? The tournament is beyond Ireland realistically, so give Carbery etc starting roles. We don’t want a repeat of player burnout before the finals stages
Murray’s been way off it the last number of games ever since Exeter visited Limerick. Hope he rediscovers but can’t be at the expense of Ireland.