UNITED Jose can solve a Rash problem by putting him right!
UNITED’S first win of the season prompted many questions, but one of the key issues was how is Marcus Rashford going to fit in the starting XI this season?
The England international was given his first start of the campaign against Leicester, fresh off the back of being handed the prestigious No.10 shirt, but something just didn’t click.
To be fair to the 20-year-old he had less than a week’s pre-season training before the 2-1 win, so it’s hardly surprising he was lacking sharpness.
However, with the absence of Romelu Lukaku, he was given a perfect opportunity to show to Jose Mourinho that he can fill the No.9 position when called upon. But his performance against Leicester means he is likely to be the fall guy when the team is announced at Brighton’s Amex Stadium on Sunday.
While there is plenty of gloom merchants out there who will start suggesting he should look to play his football elsewhere, the answer could actually be quite simple. Mourinho needs a right winger. When the transfer window closed there was plenty of talk about how United had missed a big opportunity by not bringing in another centre-back. But they have been crying out for a right winger for years.
Juan Mata has been a decent enough stop-gap in that position, but after failing to invest in a dedicated rightwing specialist, Rashford should be looking to make the position his own.
If Ashley Young can reinvent himself as a left-back in the twilight years of his career, there is no reason why Rashford can’t do the same aged 20 on the right flank.
The reality is, no matter how poorly Alexis Sanchez plays, Mourinho is likely to pick him on the left wing ahead of the England international, and that is without bringing Anthony Martial into the equation.
And the same can be said of Lukaku through the middle.
The way United play, Rashford’s chances to operate as a No.10 are going to be few and far between, but if he works on perfecting his technique on the right he could cement himself as a sure starter each week.
He has shown he can be a threat on the left without making it his own. Not only can he ensure he is a regular starter by showing he can do it on the right but he could save United millions of pounds if he manages to pull it off.