Harry Maguire Backs Marcus Rashford to Shine for Manchester United

Harry Maguire has backed Marcus Rashford to play a major role in Manchester United’s season, insisting the forward is “a great asset” now he has fought his way back into the side.

Rashford, 28, made his first Premier League start for United in 21 months in the chaotic 5-2 win over Ipswich at Old Trafford, and looked like the old version of himself – direct, dangerous, constantly asking questions of the defence.

Not long ago, his United future looked all but over. A fall-out with former manager Ruben Amorim pushed him out of the picture, leading to back-to-back loans at Aston Villa and Barcelona. Barca had the option to keep him permanently for £26m and chose not to trigger it. With the transfer window closing on Tuesday night, Rashford is now set to stay at the club he grew up in.

“He’s a great talent,” said Maguire. “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 noise around Rashford has rarely been quiet. Even during Erik ten Hag’s tenure, his work-rate, commitment and even his enjoyment of football were all dragged into question. The debate followed him out of Old Trafford and back again.

Time away seems to have done him some good. Under Unai Emery at Aston Villa and Hansi Flick at Barcelona, Rashford rediscovered sharpness and structure. Now he returns to a United side led by Michael Carrick, a head coach who knows him well from their shared time at the club and is keen to rebuild his confidence.

“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 knows that scrutiny better than most. He lost both his place and the captaincy under Ten Hag and looked close to the exit himself before forcing a way back. His empathy for Rashford is rooted in experience as much as loyalty.

“He's come back in, really fit and sharp and we’re excited to have him,” Maguire added.

Carrick has described Rashford as feeling like a new signing, a line that fits the wider reset at United. The manager has already revitalised Kobbie Mainoo, who was repeatedly overlooked by Amorim and has now had to pick himself up again after another setback: England boss Thomas Tuchel did not give him a single minute at the World Cup.

Mainoo, like Rashford, started against Ipswich. Unlike Rashford, he is only just beginning his journey. He grew into the contest after United fell behind, showing why Carrick trusts him in the heart of midfield.

“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.”

United’s revival under Carrick now leans heavily on two very different stories: Rashford, the homegrown star fighting to reclaim his old status, and Mainoo, the emerging midfielder learning how to live with the demands that come with this shirt. How they handle the next storm will say plenty about where this team is really heading.