Erik ten Hag has urged Marcus Rashford to follow the examples of Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay and win his place back in the Manchester United side.
Rashford was dropped for the midweek win over Chelsea following a lacklustre display in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Newcastle.
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The England forward has looked a shadow of the player he was last season when he scored 30 goals in all competitions, earning himself a new contract. He has managed just two this term and his body language has not been that of a player enjoying his football.
Ten Hag, who was today named the Premier League Manager of the Month for November, said: “Rashford is an incredibly good player. You can’t do it with 11 players and he can’t play in every game.
A #PL hat-trick in November! 🏅#MUFC pic.twitter.com/jXhMNYFDfN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 8, 2023
“He is not in the form he was last year, but I am sure he will get back.”
Maguire and McTominay have also been in and out of the United team this season but are currently key components of a side that has won seven of their last 10 league games.
Ten Hag added: “I said the same thing about Scott McTominay and Harry Maguire, it is up to them. Every week, the team will line up in training and the best players will form the best team and they will play.”
McTominay scored regularly for Scotland during their successful Euro 2024 qualifying campaign and has, this season, started displaying that same predatory instinct for United.
“From the first moment, I saw he has a very good smell in the box,” said Ten Hag. “He is a very good finisher. That is not a surprise to us.
“We want to play him in the position so we can get the balls in there, [we know] he will finish.”
United face in-form Bournemouth at Old Trafford tomorrow and Ten Hag is optimistic his side remain on the right track.
“We know the direction we are heading,” he said. “We are in a better place, in better form, you can see the performances are improving. But we know this league is very competitive. Everyone is killing everyone in every game, so we know we have to be ready for every game
