Ten Hag’s fate may depend on ability to re-energise struggling Rashford

Forward’s form similar to malaise at end of Solskjær’s reign – once again, Manchester United desperately need him to fire.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag.

"I don’t want to pin myself to a number,” said Erik ten Hag. It was the day before Christmas last year and the Manchester United manager had just been asked how many goals Marcus Rashford was targeting as the domestic season resumed. “I think he is capable of scoring 20 goals in the Premier League. He got three in the World Cup so we know the potential to score those numbers in the Premier League.” 

Seventy-two hours later against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford, it took Rashford 19 minutes to register his 10th of the campaign when he slammed home from a corner routine with a sweet first-time finish – the fifth successive home game in which he had found the net. Although he didn’t quite fulfil his manager’s prophecy, ending up with 17 Premier League goals, a career-best 30 in all competitions as United qualified for the Champions League and reached two domestic cup finals seemed to confirm that the boy from Wythenshawe had emerged as a truly world-class star.