Manchester United have been handed the ideal opportunity to solve major Marcus Rashford dilemma

A year ago Marcus Rashford had long since scored the fifth and final goal of his most forgettable Manchester United season. The March international break passed by without little debate over his England exile.

Rashford's last goal of last season came on January 22. He would play 15 more games without scoring and had the World Cup taken place in the summer he would have missed out on Gareth Southgate's 26-man squad.

This March, Rashford would have been one of the first names on the team sheet for England, but for the minor knock which has kept him out of European Championship qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine. The chance for the 25-year-old to get some rest is a major boost for United, but it is a blow for Southgate. Not even Harry Kane has scored as many as Rashford's 27 club goals this season.

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19 of Rashford's goals have come in 25 games since the World Cup and his form marks him out as one of the best forwards in Europe at the moment. He has impressed as a striker and as a left-sided attacker and is clearly absolutely essential to Erik ten Hag's team.

It is a remarkable transformation from a year ago, but it has also changed the debate around the player. Back then, there was genuine discussion about his future. His brother met with officials from Paris Saint-Germain last August and having started just five of the final 16 games of last season, his spot in the team hardly looked secure.

There was always an expectation that Rashford would improve for the appointment of Ten Hag, for the tactical details and high-level coaching he brings. But it was Jadon Sancho who shone brightest in pre-season and when Antony joined, Rashford's role