Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is confident Marcus Rashford will soon regain his best form but admitted the England striker is “not happy” at the moment.
Rashford has scored just one goal in 15 appearances for United this season and was sent-off in the midweek Champions League defeat at FC Copenhagen.
He has cut a forlorn figure in recent games but Ten Hag has backed him to regain his spark.
Speaking ahead of the weekend clash with Luton, the Dutchman said: “He [Rashford] is not happy and we’re not happy but he has high expectations of himself. At the minute he’s not in his best form but I know he’ll be back.
“When the team plays better, he’ll play better, he will score goals, I am confident of that. He’s totally aware of everything and will get back on track.
“It can happen very quickly, sometimes you only need one game and I’m sure he will get there.”
🚨 The boss has issued the latest team news for #MUNLUT, including an update on Jonny Evans.#MUFC || #PL
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Rashford’s red card in Denmark came when United were leading 2-0 in a game they eventually went on to lose 4-3.
Asked if he trusts his players in moments of adversity, Ten Hag added: “We often proved like at Fulham, like against Brentford, that this team can overcome big setbacks.
“It’s always about the end result and we have to win every game so we are very disappointed to lose any game.”
Mason Mount is another player that has struggled in recent weeks following his summer switch from Chelsea, failing to break back into the team after a period out with a hamstring injury.
Ten Hag has sympathy for the timing of Mount’s setback but offered no reassurances that he will be restored to the starting XI.
He said: “He started the season and then got injured, so it was the worst moment for a new player to get injured because it stops their integration process.
“That was a setback for us and him. Now he has to fight for his place back.”
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Luton arrive at Old Trafford on the back of a battling 1-1 draw with Liverpool last time out and Ten Hag is expecting another stiff test from Rob Edwards’ men.
“They have had some good performances and results and we are fully aware of that,” he said.
“In the Premier League there are no easy games, you have to play to your highest levels every game. We have to be 100 per cent focused to win.”
United will be without central defender Jonny Evans, who limped off early on against FC Copenhagen, with Raphael Varane set to deputise, although Victor Lindelof is also in the reckoning.
Rashford, who missed the win at Fulham last weekend, is available as his suspension applies only to European games.
