Erik Ten Hag backs Marcus Rashford to take confidence from recent goals

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is glad to see the likes of Marcus Rashford scoring confidence-boosting goals early in the season.

The Red Devils head to Crystal Palace for Saturday evening’s Premier League clash looking to continue their impressive return from the international break.

United have bounced back from deflating defeats to Brighton and Liverpool by swatting aside Southampton 3-0 and hammering Barnsley 7-0 in the Carabao Cup.

Rashford scored his first goal since March at St Mary’s and then hit a brace against the Tykes, lifting the confidence of a player who lost his way last season.

“It’s very good, of course, that your strikers, that they are starting to score when the season is very young,” Ten Hag said.

“Strikers, they need that belief, and we have now a couple of players who are, in the meanwhile, on the scoring list.

“It is very good for a team, because that will strengthen their belief, and they will go for more and they will score more goals now.”

Alejandro Garnacho and Christian Eriksen joined Rashford in scoring braces on a night when Antony marked his first start of the season with a goal from the spot.