The forward has seemed lost all season but now he looks utterly uninterested – what is eating away at United's biggest star?
It is hard to think of a sharper fall from grace for a footballer who should be enjoying the peak years of his career. Just under a year ago, Marcus Rashford was in the form of his life and looking like one of the best players in the world. It is no exaggeration to say that he was rivalling Kylian Mbappe as the top left-sided forward on the planet, and Paris Saint-Germain were interested in signing him as a potential replacement for the want-away France superstar.
But now Rashford looks a shadow of the player he was 12 months ago. The forward who scored 30 times in all competitions last season has just two goals to his name five months into this campaign.
It is not just his lack of goals that is attracting criticism. Rashford is barely creating any chances, for himself or his Manchester United team-mates, and he is not helping his team out by tracking back or supporting the defence. And with United looking abject whenever they play a half-decent team like Newcastle, his lack of work-rate is harming the team. He also looks thoroughly miserable.
So what is eating away at United's homegrown superstar and how can United help him get back on track?
GettyOne goal every 540 minutes
Rashford's lack of goals this season is particularly remarkable given how much football he has played. He has started every league game bar one when he was injured, playing 1081 minutes, only trailing Bruno Fernandes and Andre Onana in time on the pitch.
Despite his repeated opportunities, he has scored just twice, a cracking goal against Arsenal in September and a penalty against Everton in November, which Fernandes allowed him take in a bid to lift his confidence. Suffice to say, Fernandes' gesture is yet to have the desired effect.
He has also played four out of five games in the Champions League, only missing the trip to Galatasaray as he was suspended, and has failed to score at all in Europe's top competition.
AdvertisementGettyOne shot every two hours
You often hear a manager defending an out-of-form striker who keeps missing chances by saying that the positive thing is they are getting in the right positions, making the right moves and the goals will soon come.
But that is not the case with Rashford. The forward is averaging a shot on target every 120.9 minutes this season, the lowest rate of his entire United career. Last season, Rashford was averaging a shot on target every 57.8 minutes. In the 2019-20 season, his previous best, it was every 60.3 minutes.
And it is not the case that his team-mates are not passing to him or that he is not getting forward enough. He leads the United squad in progressive carries and progressive passes received.
United fans have got used to a very familiar sight this season, of Rashford tearing up the pitch down one of the flanks in a good position, only to be tackled, blocked or over-run the ball and send it out for a goal-kick.
GettyPerforming badly in a bad bunch
Rashford is far from alone in underperforming for United. Despite his woeful showings, he is the team's third-top scorer in the league, and his fellow forwards are faring even worse.
Alejandro Garnacho and Anthony Martial have scored once, both against Everton, while £72m ($90m) signing Rasmus Hojlund is yet to score in domestic competition, although he has done very well in the Champions League, notching five goals.
But the fact United's forwards are struggling in general should be little consolation to Rashford. As the club's highest-paid player and one of their longest-serving, it is up to him to spearhead the team's attacking threat.
Getty'Even Antony was more effective'
Rashford's body language during the Newcastle game was heavily scrutinised by pundits, with Jermaine Jenas describing it as "shocking" on and Alan Shearer claiming on that the forward "didn't look interested".
Rashford's stroppy reaction at getting hauled off in the 61st minute got a lot of attention on social media, but he also seemed to play without desire the whole time he was on the pitch.
As Jim White put it in : "Here’s how wretched his performance was at St James’: when Antony came on to replace him, finally the team in red had a presence on the ball. For Rashford, that is as dark an indictment of a performance as you can get, when Antony is more effective than you are."