Owen rates Rashford near world-class
MICHAEL OWEN is convinced that Marcus Rashford has the potential to be one of the top five centre-forwards on the planet. So Manchester United have a big decision to make on him this summer.
There are parallels between the 19-year-old striker and the former United, Liverpool and Real Madrid star.
Both scored club debut goals as teenagers and both won their first England cap at 18.
Owen became one of the world’s top marksmen and he believes that Rashford can follow suit.
However, what Jose Mourinho does in the coming transfer window will have a huge bearing on whether the youngster can fulfil that potential.
BT Sport’s football expert Owen says: “Marcus has attributes you would die for. I could count on one hand those who have similar attributes.
“There aren’t many who get you off your seat, beat players and score goals like he can.
“He has the speed, he’s direct and he’s fearless. I don’t care who you are, you hate playing against that sort of player.
“I can certainly see a world-class player inside him. The raw talent is there and he will improve.
“He can turn into a player United can rely on for big numbers of goals every season.
“If you’re a Manchester United centre-forward, you have to be one of the best four or five in the position in the world.
“If you’re not, your manager is always going to be on the look-out for something better.
“Put yourself in Jose’s shoes. No one knows what’s going to happen with Wayne Rooney, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic is now injured.
“Is Rashford going to score the 30-odd goals a season United will need? Is he world-class – or just very good?
“So United have decisions to make this summer, and the picture is murky with the Zlatan injury and Rooney’s situation.
“Rashford was very young last summer and I thought Zlatan coming in bought him time to get to where he needs to be for that next transition.
“Maybe it would help him if Zlatan signed for another season. But if he doesn’t, they might go into the transfer market.
“So Rashford could end up being played wide or just when the main striker is injured.”
United are vying with another of Owen’s former clubs, Liverpool, for a Champions League spot.
And he insists: “What I’d like is for Manchester City and Liverpool to finish in the top four and for United to win the Europa League so we have five top clubs in the competition next season.
“We could then have a right go at winning it.
The domination of Spanish clubs and Bayern Munich has been painful to watch.”