Erik ten Hag experiment could force Manchester United into another transfer decision

With Roy Keane sat to his left and Gary Neville sat opposite him, Jose Mourinho, following Manchester United's 1-1 draw with Liverpool in October 2019, set about addressing Marcus Rashford's limitations as a centre-forward.

"For me he is a very good player in some models of play," said Mourinho, who worked with Rashford during his time in charge at Old Trafford. "He is a very good player in some positions, but as a target man, as a No.9, I don't think he has the 30 goals that a top striker has.

"He can't get better as a No.9. He can get better and better and better playing the way they did today, playing from the left side with another one as a target man."

Mourinho's opinion of Rashford's best position has been echoed up and down the land ever since. He has produced the best of his football in United colours on the left and that is where he plundered most of his goals from last season.

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Rashford's career was, of course, resurrected by Erik ten Hag last term. He scored 30 goals in all competitions, becoming the first United player to do so since Robin van Persie a decade earlier. Confidence was flowing through his veins and his performances reflected that.

Though United lacked a reliable focal point up front for much of last season, resulting in Rashford sometimes having to step across and play centrally, he caused the most damage from the left wing. He has described that role as his best position at various junctures in recent years and it is blindingly obvious why.

However, he was tasked with playing