Marcus Rashford has been given Manchester United challenge by Wayne Rooney and Erik ten Hag

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford already has more goals this season (27) than in the previous two campaigns combined (26). April is yet to arrive and Rashford is breaking personal records that seemed merely a pipedream amid his struggles last year.

His renaissance has been genuinely remarkable and he's playing the best football of his career with Erik ten Hag in charge. Rashford has reverted to what makes him a special talent. He is playing with unbridled confidence again, taking on the opposition through instinct and the results have spoken for themselves, as he's Europe's most in-form forward.

In a team that lacks a varied source of goals, Rashford has delivered in spades and held up his share of the bargain. His goals have been instrumental in the Reds' ascension up the Premier League table and throughout the Europa League campaign.

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The last United player to reach the 30-goal mark in a season was Robin van Persie in 2012/13, which was his memorable debut year at Old Trafford, and Rashford appears to be a certainty to equal that haul by the end of next month.

So what next? Champions League qualification looks to be secured, but the Europa League and FA Cup remain realistic avenues for silverware and Rashford sustaining his form for the remainder of the season will be crucial in those competitions.

That will be the player's priority, but Ten Hag, speaking in early February, challenged him to get between '30 and 35 goals' and the latter tally seems likely to have been identified by an ambitious player who can't currently seem to do much wrong.

Regardless of what happens at the business end of the campaign, Rashford will remember this