HE’S SIMPLY RED: AND WE LOVE IT

Manchester United fan Scott Patterson, AKA the Republik of Mancunia (@ R_ o_ M), on the lad they proudly call their own

As an 18- year- old breaking into the Manchester United first team, Rashford was like a kid on the playground. His obvious joy in celebrating every goal was infectious – and there were a lot of those goals in the beginning. He’s a lifelong fan who had joined the club when he was seven, and is now living the dream of United fans everywhere.

He can also be relied upon to show up in the big games when things matter most. Even though he’s still only 22, he’s already got 13 goals to his name against Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal. And that injury- time penalty to knock PSG out of the Champions League last season? There’s no one we’d have rather seen stick that in.

Rashford is a Manc, he’s a Red, and it’s so clear what that means to him. It’s not just all the goals against our rivals that we appreciate him for, but also the effort he puts into every match. That was epitomised last year in our home draw against Liverpool, when he was injured along with three other players in the first half. With no substitutes left, however, he continued to give everything until the final whistle to get a result for his team. Rashford can have bad days like everybody, but it’s never through a lack of trying.

This season, we’ve really begun to see his hard work pay off in a measurable way. He was the third- highest scorer in the Premier League before his injury in January, and he’s still years away from his peak. With a better team around him, who knows what he’s capable of achieving?

Aside from everything he does on the pitch, Rashford is just an all- round good lad. His project to help the homeless in Manchester last Christmas was admirable, typifying the sort of person he is: humble, hard- working and proud of his roots. Supporters of every club wish they had a Marcus Rashford – but we’re the ones lucky enough to have him.