It was notable in Manchester United’s unhindered performance in Ruud van Nistelrooy’s first game as caretaker manager that, while Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho, Casemiro and others played with freedom and smiles on their faces, Marcus Rashford remained in the doldrums at Old Trafford, wandering around the pitch. as if it were a chore, seemingly impervious to the prospect of seeing the grass greener after Erik ten Hag.

New manager Ruben Amorim We’ll now wonder if and how he can fix Manchester United’s broken striker, and we join him in banging our heads against that particular brick wall. Here are our five remedies from Marcus Rashford.

Buy a left back to play with
The 5-2 victory against Leicester It was a blow to those who wrongly believed that Ten Hag’s exit would miraculously spark a return to form for Rashford, and his first season under the Dutchman rather puts an end to that notion anyway; Rashford was linked with £100 million moves at the end of this campaign after his best ever goal return. Ten Hag was certainly no problem SO.

Rashford scored 30 goals, mostly in what became his home on the left wing. He was brilliant, seemingly unstoppable when running at defenders and cutting in with his right foot, scoring against Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City, Barcelona and three against Arsenal. A bully on all trails.

He has since failed to replicate that form, and while people are scratching their heads and rubbing their chins, the answer to his woes could be as simple as long-term injury problems for Luke Shaw.

The left-back played almost the entire 2022/2023 season and has barely featured since, with Rashford usually playing ahead of Diogo Dalot, who has done a perfectly decent job out of position but naturally doesn’t make the same penetrating runs. beyond Rashford as Shaw, who can also open up his body and play left-footed passes down the touchline for Rashford, and is – quite simply – a better footballer than Dalot.

The new administrators have already made the mistake of relying on Shaw, who continues to suffer setback after setback. A new left-back must be a priority in January.

Change position
This will likely happen organically through Ruben Amorim’s system. The full-backs will mean that while Rashford plays nominally as a left winger, he will be more central anyway, winning the ball in the half-spaces between the opposition defense and midfield.

The problem is that it’s not really Rashford’s game. It’s a role more suited to Alejandro Garnacho or Amad Diallo, perhaps Bruno Fernandes, and perfect for Mason Mount, who has thrived in this reverse role for Chelsea.

Rashford doesn’t want to be on the half-turn but to face defenders or run on balls in behind, as Viktor Gyokeres did to great effect as Sporting’s central striker. We’ve been here before, we know, and Rashford usually looks a little lost as Manchester United’s number 9; he has the pace to match Gyokeres but lacks the strength and ability to hold up the ball.

But this will arguably be the position that suits Rashford best and if Amorim is unable to bring Gyokeres with him to Old Trafford, which will be difficult given their PSR concerns, get the guy who scored only 32 fewer goals for Manchester United (135). that what the other five strikers have achieved during their senior club careers, combined as close to the opposition goal as possible might not be a bad idea.

LEARN MORE: Five Sporting players Ruben Amorim should take with him to repair Manchester United

Departure for Manchester City
Pep Guardiola has said on several occasions: Rashford is the only Manchester United player good enough to play regularly for Manchester Cityand while we believe that most of the best managers in world football would believe themselves capable of looking after a footballer with enormous talent but fragile confidence, we have no doubt that Guardiola – being THE the top manager – would make the move.

There aren’t many, if any, attackers that Guardiola hasn’t managed to fine-tune at City; many of them have improved considerably. The man in the street doesn’t like what he has turned into Jack Grealish, but the more neutered version of the Aston Villa maverick played a crucial role in the triple victory. Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez, Julian Alvarez, Leroy Sane, Gabriel Jesus, Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku were or continue to be brilliant, and some – like Sterling – have arguably only ever been brilliant under Guardiola.

We could see Rashford move to Paris Saint-Germain, who have been interested in the past, or Barcelona, ​​who remain in the market for a left winger, and fail, but that just doesn’t seem like an option for this genre player when they moved to Manchester City.

MORE ON MAN UTD FROM F365…
Viktor Gyokeres to Man Utd: Why would he join a ‘doomed project’?
Van Nistelrooy’s future far away from Man Utd as Wolves and West Ham consider three-match audition
Big weekend: Manchester United, Martin, Wood and the battle for fourth place between Spurs and Villa

Departure for Saudi Arabia
United may well be willing to listen to offers for Rashford as they are unlikely to have the cash to Gyokeres or any other Sporting player will inevitably be signed for Amorim in line with the Red Devils’ philosophy of chasing the success of the manager’s previous club. With Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Hojlund deemed untransferable, Rashford – despite his poor form – is probably the salable asset who could reap the most rewards for United.

They would prefer not to sell him to City or another rival, and there is no greater gold mine for signing surplus star players than the Saudi Pro League, where clubs show no signs of letting up in their attempt to attract the best talent from Europe. And while many big-name players have made the move, Rashford would be a big coup as an England international and Manchester United academy graduate during his best playing years.

It would be hard to dismiss us as left-wing, woke human rights activists who applauded Rashford’s selfless drive to feed Manchester’s starving children, and we don’t think he would do it to us, but it also looks like to an environment that might suit someone who is no longer in love with football, but wants to make big changes to settle their family for the rest of their life.

Put an arm around him
A simple solution and one that should clearly be the first port of call for Amorim, renowned for building strong bonds with its players, connecting with them as people, and not just footballers.

We don’t know the details of his man management style, but simplifying the game for Rashford and telling him how good he is may be a good place to start, because from the outside it looks like Rashford is struggling constantly against demons that could be put aside with clear and direct instruction from a leader who believes in him and has his best interests at heart.

We should probably put this one at the top.