Marcus Rashford Turns Heads as Manchester United’s Rising Star
Marcus Rashford has bursted onto the Premier League scene as the 18-year-old enjoys his second season of first team play with the Red Devils. Heading into the 2016/17 campaign, Rashford represented England at the European Championships, which he debuted as youngest player to ever take the pitch for his country. Definitely a Player To Watch!
Soccer News: Manchester United has long been well regarded for its impeccable youth system. This year, that reliance on young talent has been more prominent than ever. A look at the club’s starting 11 reveals a number of key players under the age of 23, but few have made an impression quite like the youngest of the bunch, Marcus Rashford.
Rashford initially burst onto the scene last season when he was utilized by former manager Louis Van Gaal to plug a hole in the team’s offense left by injuries. Now that the club is under new management with Jose Mourinho at United, some wondered about the future role of Rashford at the club. Thankfully, there was little to be worried about for fans of the young striker. He more than proved himself last year as a reliable offensive presence who has become a fixture of Manchester’s line-up.
The 18-year-old has been a revelation since his debut in February, during which he scored two goals to lead his team to victory, which he’s done consistently. As of this writing, Rashford has scored 8 times in 16 appearances for the Red Devils and has proven that his early success was anything but beginner’s luck.
Given how positive Rashford’s performances have been with the Red Devils, many are calling for him to receive an increased role with the English National Team as well. Earlier this year, he became the youngest player to ever take the pitch for England at the European Championships when he came on as a sub for Adam Lallana in the game against Wales. Rashford has been named to the squad for the upcoming matches against Malta and Slovenia, but we’ll have to wait and see how big of a role he’ll play under new manager Gary Southgate.
Rashford is easily one of the most exciting young talents in the sport and we only expect him to keep getting better as he gains more first-team experience. The teenager is one of the top picks for this year’s Golden Boy award and we wouldn’t be surprised at all to see him win. Other Premier League players in the running include Dele Alli from Tottenham Hotspur, Marko Grujic from Liverpool, Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi, and Manchester City’s Leroy Sane and Kelechi Iheanacho. Ashford is the youngest player of those mentioned and might have the best shot at the award based on his current string of successes.
The player is set to turn 19 this Halloween. And with a contract extension in place to keep Rashford at Old Trafford until 2020, we look forward to many more productive years from the budding star on both Manchester United and the national team. Having a host of talented young players can make or break the future of a big club, and one peek at the roster for the Red Devils shows they’re looking set for years to come.
