B-RASH AND BOLD
Marcus is heading to the top in a hurry, and Ole says: ‘He’s got everything’
FOUR years ago next month, Marcus Rashford exploded into the Premier League in a blizzard of goals – and he’s not stopped since.
And if there’s a crumb of comfort for Manchester United fans as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s stars try to slowly claw their way back to football’s top table it’s knowing they possess one of the world’s top guns in Rashford.
The 22-year-old striker sprinkled his 200th appearance for the Reds with a reminder of his deadly talents.
His crucial two goals gave Old Trafford a timely lift after a week in which they were outclassed by rivals Manchester City and didn’t manage a shot on target at Wolves in the FA Cup.
Granted, bottom of the table Norwich were easier opponents once Rashford had broken their stubborn early resistance with a clinical 27th-minute opener.
But the England man was an unstoppable force and he paved the way for victory with Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood adding to the score as United kept fourth place Chelsea in their sights.
Solskjaer’s team are currently built more on hope than expectation, but at least in Rashford they have a genuine world-class performer.
Maybe the manager should take some credit too, with
Rashford and Greenwood improving their numbers and learning from their boss how to be more ruthless finishers.
And fresh from his life-line goal against City in the Carabao Cup semi-final on another milestone day here was Rashford – with 64 career goals for the club – enhancing his reputation again.
“What an achievement to get to 200 games at his age” purred Solskjaer. “I don’t know how many goals he’s scored for us but that was 19 for this season. He has been top class to work with.
“He’s a great kid, great attitude, wants to learn, knows to keep his feet on the ground and is always available even though today he was carrying quite a few knocks.
“And he can get better, of
course he can. He’s got everything to be a top-class player, attitude, skill, physique, the goals he scored today inside six-yard box, more of them and then he’ll be exceptional.”
Not for the first time though against a packed defence, United initially struggled to conjure the creativity to force a breakthrough.
Rashford always carried the greatest threat, tormenting defenders with outrageous close skills while Martial had a penalty shout when Christoph Zimmermann sent him tumbling in the box but VAR wasn’t interested.
Despite dominating possession, little was happening until Juan Mata found time and space to pick out Rashford’s decisive 27th-minute dart towards the far post.
The Spaniard’s teasing ball was precision delivered and expertly finished by Rashford.
It should have opened the firsthalf floodgates against a Norwich side who had won just one of their last 16 league games and arrived at Old Trafford rock bottom of the Premier League.
But although United probed, a second goal was elusive and Norwich ended the half spurning a golden chance to go in level.
Fred was beaten to the ball by Emiliano Buendia who set up Todd Cantwell but the young Norwich midfielder saw David De Gea make a superb save to keep out his curling low drive. It was a miss they were to regret as Rashford freed full-back Brandon Williams with a killer pass forcing Tim Krul to rush out of goal and upend the teenager.
Anthony Taylor instantly awarded the penalty and despite seeing Krul save his spot-kick in the 3-1 win at Carrow Road in October, Rashford stepped up and drilled United 2-0 ahead.
Moments later in the 54th minute, Frenchman Martial superbly headed home another pinpoint Mata cross after a corner by Andreas Pereira.
Sensing more reward, United weren’t done and 18-year-old Greenwood scored four minutes after coming on with a trademark sweeping left foot drive into the bottom corner. There were more positives than negatives this time for Solskjaer with Williams and Mata outstanding performers, Harry Maguire proving his fitness plus a clean sheet.
But a knock during the game means Rashford is a doubt for the Wolves Cup replay and Luke Shaw felt his hamstring tighten in the warm up.