Manchester United: 'Important' Marcus Rashford shows he can be a winner

The jubilant «Fergieee timeeeee» celebration posted on Marcus Rashford's Twitter feed half an hour after the final whistle in Manchester United's last-gasp Premier League victory over West Ham at Old Trafford neatly encapsulated the mood of the day.

This felt like a big win for United — following on from Wednesday's 3-1 victory at Brentford.

It was a difficult game, against dogged opponents who were able to pick something close to the team that got them into the top four, and who benefitted from a week's rest compared to United's two days.

A game that entered its final minute of injury time seemingly certain to end goalless, until Rashford arrived at the far post to turn home Edinson Cavani's low cross.

The goal sparked an outpouring of emotion that fans were still enjoying long after the final whistle.

It has been a hard season at Old Trafford. A memorable win against West Ham will not solve all their problems. But at least it will allow them to enter the international break feeling good about themselves.

The same could also be said for Rashford himself.

Until his strike against Brentford in midweek, Rashford had not scored since the end of October — a run of 11 matches and his longest drought since 2016-17.

Those close to the 24-year-old had accepted a lack of confidence had materialised and were urging him to go back to basics, to adopt the approach that brought him acclaim in the first place; run at opponents with his electric pace and take them on.

After the season he has endured, the social media post on Saturday was almost as much a personal cry of joy as the one he released in real time as he ran away to celebrate his match-winner.

It now means Rashford has scored in successive Premier League games for the first time since