QUESTION MARC

Red-hot Rashford is posing all sorts of problems to defenders but so far none can come up with any answers as his scoring streak stretches to 17 goals in 17 games since the World Cup

- GIDEON BROOKS

DEFENDERS struggling to stop Marcus Rashford don't need to see the numbers to realise they are facing a striker at the peak of his powers.

But two goals yesterday as United despatched an in-form Leicester City provided them anyway, with his 24 goals in all competitions making this statistically his best season ever.

Records keep on tumbling at Old Trafford, as Erik ten Hag's men stayed in the hunt for the league title with a ruthless victory just three days after a gruelling night in the Nou Camp and seven days ahead of their Carabao Cup final.

And Rashford simply refuses to take a backward step into the shadows.

The temptation to wrap the striker in cotton wool may be overwhelming for Ten Hag but his goals are keeping United in the hunt for not only cup silverware, but quite probably a shot at the Premier League.

Victory here saw United close to just three points behind Manchester City in second place and just five behind Arsenal, who have a game in hand.

Yet of the three it is United who have the most urgent momentum and it is Rashford, equalling Wayne Rooney's record from 2010 of scoring in seven consecutive Premier

League home games, who is providing it. Just three days after Barcelona it was understandable that United started this game slowly. What was surprising was how they finished it looking like a title challenger.

Leicester, for their part, will wonder what might have been had they taken one or two of numerous first-half chances, the visitors finding David de Gea (below, right) in inspired form.