Manchester United have just unlocked the key to improving Marcus Rashford this season

Marcus Rashford started on the left for Manchester United on Boxing Day and produced his best performance for months. Football is a simple game made complicated by people who should know better.

Playing your best players in their best positions is a simple rule which Erik ten Hag hasn't always followed and it was no surprise to see Rashford show glimmers of the levels he reached last season.

Rashford has not hidden his preference to play on the left wing and he recently explained in detail the tactical differences he experiences when playing on the right or through the middle.

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The academy graduate enjoyed the finest season of his career in 2022/23 and although he played as a striker when necessary, he was in the form of his life and would have still scored if starting in defence.

However, Rashford has scored just twice this season and his most recent goal came from the penalty spot against Everton at Goodison Park, which was given to him by Bruno Fernandes to raise his confidence.

He's looked like a shell of his former self - he is the ultimate confidence player - and starting him on the left has become unjustifiable because Alejandro Garnacho has produced better performances.

Ten Hag recognised that and made a compromise to still play Rashford but on the right wing, although he was eventually dropped to the bench for games against Chelsea, Bournemouth and Liverpool.

Rashford has made four starts on that side without scoring or assisting from open play and United have collectively struggled for goals, so Ten Hag was forced into a rethink for the visit of Aston Villa.

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