Erik ten Hag's Ajax example bodes well for Marcus Rashford's Manchester United future

20th October 2020. Manchester United played Paris Saint-Germain away from home in a Champions League knockout game that seemed impossible to overcome.

In the 89th minute, a penalty is given for a handball. One goal is needed to complete a sensational comeback, and up steps Marcus Rashford. Greeted by boos of fans and the veteran Buffon standing in his way, the then 21-year-old keeps his cool and smashes the ball into the net; silencing not just the boos but the city as a whole.

Fast forward to May 2022 and the mood is entirely different. Dropped from Gareth Southgate’s England squad in the run-up to the World Cup and consistently underperforming in a United shirt, questions linger about what’s next for the 24-year-old.

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The MEN reported in March that he was seriously considering his future at his boyhood club due to a lack of game time, however no-one can blame Rangnick for looking for options in-game other than Rashford.

In the Premier League this season he has scored just four times in 25 appearances and only stayed on the pitch for the full 90 three times. Compared to the previous two seasons, Rashford acquired over 20G/A in both league campaigns. The drop-off in form is down to a number of things, but it seems to mostly be down to confidence. At times this season he has looked completely dead on his feet, an artist uninspired.

To make things worse, fans have lost their patience. Despite normally being a favourite amongst the thousands at Old Trafford, the nonsensical comments of, ‘he needs to pay more attention to football’ in regard to his charity work have become more and more frequent.

So what happens next? Newly-appointed manager Erik