Harry Maguire backs Marcus Rashford to shine for Manchester United
Harry Maguire backs “hungry” Marcus Rashford to fire again for Manchester United this season, insisting the forward can still be a “great asset” at Old Trafford after a turbulent spell away from the club.
Rashford made his first Premier League start for United in 21 months in the 5-2 win over Ipswich at Old Trafford, and looked like the old threat again – direct, sharp, constantly asking questions of defenders. For a player who only a few months ago seemed destined to leave, it felt like a reset.
Not long ago, his United future looked all but over. A breakdown in relations with former boss Ruben Amorim pushed him out on loan, first to Aston Villa and then to Barcelona. The Catalan club had a £26m option to buy and, for a time, it appeared Rashford might never return to Old Trafford. They chose not to trigger it. Now, with the transfer window closing on Tuesday night, all signs point to Rashford staying at his boyhood club.
Maguire, who has ridden his own storm at United, sees a player worth persevering with.
“He's a great talent,” the defender said. “He's always a threat.
“If Marcus wants to be here, wants to work, wants to improve and help the team, of course we're willing to have him in the team.
“He could still do a lot more and I think he'll say he can do more but if we keep him fit, we keep him happy, he keeps driven and hungry, he's a great asset to have.”
The conversation around Rashford has rarely been quiet. Even during Erik ten Hag’s tenure, the noise grew: questions about his work-rate, his commitment, even whether he still enjoyed playing football at all. Every off-day became a talking point, every poor run a referendum on his future.
His time away from Old Trafford, though, seems to have done something for him. Working under Unai Emery at Villa and Hansi Flick at Barcelona, Rashford rediscovered some edge and discipline. Back at United, he now finds a head coach who knows him as well as anyone in Michael Carrick, a former team-mate who understands both the player and the environment.
“You've got to remember Marcus has had a wonderful career for this club,” Maguire said.
“But when you play at this club for numerous years, there's going to be bad seasons, and when the bad seasons come everyone piles on you. That's part and parcel of playing for this club.
“As a club, we haven't been perfect from top to bottom. We haven't been challenging at the top end. So, Marcus has been part of a rough ride for Manchester United.
“When that happens, players get dug out. I've been through it.”
Maguire’s words carry weight. He knows what it is to be frozen out, to lose both his place and the captaincy under Ten Hag, and to sit on the brink of an exit before fighting his way back. He sees similar resilience in Rashford’s return.
“He's come back in, really fit and sharp and we're excited to have him,” he added.
For Carrick, Rashford almost feels like a new signing. A proven match-winner suddenly reintroduced to the starting XI at a time when United are trying to rebuild both style and belief.
Carrick’s ability to revive careers is already on show in midfield. Kobbie Mainoo, who struggled for opportunities under Amorim, has been rejuvenated under the new head coach. Now the youngster must respond again after another setback: England boss Thomas Tuchel took him to the World Cup but never used him.
Mainoo started his first game of the season in that wild win over Ipswich, looking rusty early on as United fell behind, then steadily growing into the contest.
“I thought he was brilliant,” said Maguire.
“To say he hasn't had many minutes in pre-season, he was magnificent.
“His work without the ball has improved so much since Michael's been in. He's becoming a real monster in there, wins a lot of second balls and a lot of duels.
“The thing is he's so young. If we want him to play for this club for another 10 years, there's going to be times where he's going to go through a patch like I spoke about with Rashy and myself.
“But that's part and parcel. He's really level-headed, really composed and has great belief in his ability.
“He's going to be a magnificent player for this club for many years.”
Between Rashford, the returning forward with a point to prove, and Mainoo, the emerging midfielder learning to ride the waves early in his career, Carrick has two very different projects on his hands. Both, though, speak to the same question: can this United side finally turn individual promise into a team that consistently competes at the top end again?
