Marcus Rashford should not distract Manchester United from their next transfer priority

If there is something we have learned from the first seven matches of the new season, it is that Erik ten Hag clearly has his favourites at Manchester United.

Plenty has been made of his adoration of Christian Eriksen in the engine room of his midfield and his devotion to fellow summer signing Lisandro Martinez, but most interesting is his loyalty to Marcus Rashford. The 24-year-old has started every match for United in the Premier League so far this season, taking part in 97 per cent of total minutes played by the team and, perhaps most impressively, being involved in 63 per cent of their goals scored so far too.

Rashford started on the left wing in United’s opening two defeats but has enjoyed a rejuvenated run, just like his side, starting as the central attacker in the last four matches. In those games, has grabbed his three goals and his two assists of the campaign, leading to fresh debate about his best position in the United side.

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There can be no ignoring the fact that when Rashford has started as a centre forward this season he has enjoyed better goal contributions. But there is mitigation to those stats, given how they actually occurred.

In fact, all three of Rashford's goals this season have actually come when he has switched to the left wing later on in the match, benefitting from the space that has been created for him by the other players in attack.

His goal against Liverpool came on the break once Anthony Martial had been introduced, while his brace against Arsenal was also on the counter-attack, this time making the most of the space Cristiano Ronaldo had freed up as a result of his centre forward play.

What is clear is that while Rashford certainly has