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Off-colour Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is losing the backing of club legend Dwight Yorke, who has questioned whether he has the “burning desire” to get himself out of his “slump”.
Speaking to talkSPORT via The Mirror, Yorke said “I have defended Marcus many times, but he just seems unhappy. For whatever reason I don’t know, but he just does not seem to be enjoying his football like he used to.”
Rashford’s startling decline is clear to see. From being the first United player since Robin van Persie to hit 30 goals in a season, a feat he achieved in 22/23 in Erik ten Hag’s first season in charge, he failed to even reach double figures in the last campaign, hitting just eight in all competitions.
What’s more, the 26-year-old at times cut a dejected figure on the field, with his body language and reluctance to track back sparking frustration amongst fans.
After missing out on Gareth Southgate’s squad for the Euros, Rashford has had all summer to prepare mentally and physically for the new season, and Yorke expected him to “come back with a little bit of fire in his belly”.
But his showings against Fulham and Brighton and Hove Albion were as underwhelming as ever, yielding no shots on goal as he started in his preferred left wing position.
He should have had an assist in the opening game against Fulham, when Alejandro Garnacho missed an open goal from a Rashford lay-off, but even then you feel that the Rashford of 22/23 would have slotted the ball home himself.
Yorke is no stranger to bagging Old Trafford goals, netting 66 times in 152 appearances for United, and feels that “You can bring in the best coaches around him, but he has to have that burning desire to get himself back. We know he has all the talent and all the ability.
“But if he is not prepared to put that effort in and really bring himself back from his poorest season last year, he is not going to get back to that level. He has to want to do it.”
Rashford could hardly ask for a better mentor than United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy, who was brought in over the summer as a coach – if he can impart even a fraction of his goalscoring nous then the 26-year-old will enjoy a much-improved season.
But as it is, there are mounting calls for Rashford to lose his starting position in the upcoming crunch match at home to Liverpool.
Garnacho has impressed from the bench in both of United’s games so far this season, and summer signing Joshua Zirkzee bagged the winner on the opening day after being substituted on. Rashford shouldn’t count on being on the Old Trafford pitch at kick-off on Sunday.
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