Former Manchester United striker tells Erik ten Hag how to help Marcus Rashford return to form

Former Manchester United youngster Fraizer Campbell believes Erik ten Hag might have to drop Marcus Rashford in an attempt to kick-start his season.

The England international, following a brilliant 2022/23 campaign, has made a slow start to this season, scoring just one goal in his first eight appearances in league and cup. He was recalled to the starting line-up against Crystal Palace at the weekend after being an unused substitute against the same opponent in the Carabao Cup four days earlier.

Deployed on the left of the front-three, Rashford failed to influence proceedings in the way he would have wished to, with United slumping to a second successive home league defeat. They have now lost four of their opening seven league matches this term.

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Rashford, who will celebrate his 26th birthday at the end of this month, has come in for criticism from some supporters, mostly for his uninspiring pressing levels in comparison to some of his teammates. He has also been criticised for his lack of productivity in front of goal.

Though Ten Hag defended the forward after Saturday's 1-0 reverse at Old Trafford, Campbell, who made just four first-team appearances for United during his Old Trafford career, admits that the prospect of him being dropped could be a much-needed wake-up call to spark him back into life.

"Sometimes you get dropped out of the team, and you think 'Hang on a minute, I was [the] star player last season, I did really well', so it might change his mentality," Campbell told MUTV. "He might train a bit harder, it might be something he needs to spur him