It must be said that it would be a bit lazy to blame Manchester United’s recent woes on the return of Marcus Rashford, the Englishman who has been one of the brightest sparks under Michael Carrick in recent weeks.
The game against Fulham was arguably the 28-year-old’s worst performance to date, although he did appear to be injured and subsequently withdrawn from the England squad.
Considering how it all ended under Ruben Amorim, the high-profile striker would have been an easy target at Old Trafford, having left on a sour note back in January 2025.
However, it feels a bit unfair to scapegoat the Englishman for United’s difficult start to the season, but it’s still worth figuring out how to get the best out of him.
Why Rashford isn’t Manchester United’s problem
On the one hand, there was a suggestion that Rashford’s return disrupted the rhythm of Carrick’s forward line, a point supported by Matheus Cunha, who scored his first Premier League goal of the season after moving to the left wing last time out.
Likewise, United’s new number nine is yet to score or assist in all competitions, and any striker will need to be judged on the level of their end product.
However, Rashford was one Bryan Mbeumo error away from providing an assist against Ipswich while creating a host of chances, in fact finishing third in the division in terms of total chances created (13).
Creating Opportunities – 26/27 | |
|---|---|
player | Record |
Overall | 15 |
Gibbs-White | 14 |
Rashford | 13 |
Fernandez | 13 |
Xhaka | 13 |
Cherki | 12 |
Odegaard | 12 |
McCarty | 12 |
He has been asked to be more involved in the final third where it really matters, although he actually had the second-highest number of touches in the opposition penalty area again (33), trailing only Fulham’s Josh King in this regard.
He provides width that Cunha does not possess in the position, with the Brazilian looking nameless after entering the fray in the defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion by leaning too centrally late in the game.
The bigger issue is undoubtedly the absence of Amad, whose return will see Mbeumo once again assume the No.9 role, with Cunha and Rashford then battling it out on the left.
The Ivorian could be key to Carrick’s attack, while Rashford and Cunha can’t go wrong with a new left-back.
How Manchester United can get the most out of Rashford in 2027 signing
The transfer window ended a few weeks ago and United fans are already looking ahead to January with vacancies in a number of key positions.
Benjamin Sesco’s long-term shin injury has prompted the need for further competition at center forward, while a setback for Amad has exposed the Red Devils’ actual strength in senior attacking options.
There is still no clear replacement for Bruno Fernandes and despite the recent investment in centre-back, that department remains particularly error- and injury-prone.
However, the most pressing issue is likely to be at left-back, as the decision not to sign a replacement or back-up for Luke Shaw has backfired.
According to Football Insider , Ineos may be looking for a solution in the Premier League, with Crystal Palace’s Tyreke Mitchell said to be “very keen” to join the club.
It is believed the 27-year-old would “find it difficult” to move if United received an offer, with reports previously suggesting the Englishman was also on Liverpool’s radar.
Mitchell is a product of Crystal Palace’s academy and his current contract expires next summer, so there is plenty of interest in him, with January undoubtedly the best time to pounce.
Such a signing would certainly benefit Rashford, with the flying striker often at his best when backed by reliable, consistent players, as is the case with Shaw.
There is a clear link between Rashford’s best season in a United shirt and Shaw’s most minutes, especially in the Premier League.
Except for Rashford’s loan last season and his performance at Southampton in the 2013/14 season, Shaw has played the most minutes in the top flight in the 2020/21 season, 2018/19 season and 2022/23 season. For those ahead of him, Rashford scored 11, 10 and 17 league goals in those years.
This correlation can’t be a coincidence and while the pair are reunited, Shaw’s fitness remains a concern, with the 31-year-old missing the derby as well as games against Sabah and Brighton.
This may be where Mitchell stands out, with the long-serving Eagles star able to challenge his compatriot at the back while providing Rashford with the support he needs before.
Indeed, the in-demand defender has primarily played as a full-back at Selhurst Park in recent years, knowing how to push forward to support the man in front of him and only recently scored twice against Fulham.
For example, in the 2024/25 season, Mitchell contributed 5 assists and created 11 “super chances”, undoubtedly showing a higher level of end product than United’s current full-backs.
This would leave Carrick less reliant on Rashford (or Cunha) as his only attacking threat on the left, with a flying full-back only able to assist the former Barcelona loanee.
Yes, Rashford needs to improve his game in terms of goal involvement and find a consistent level of performance, but he certainly has a better chance of doing that if backed by a truly fit, firing left-back like Mitchell.