RASHFORD WILL REALISE THAT A YEAR IS A LONG TIME IN FOOTBALL

SO much can change in 12 months and Marcus Rashford is learning that the hard way - not for the first time either.

- TOM COLEY

Eight years into his senior career at United and he has had the heroto-zero arch more than most manage in a lifetime.

In April/May 2023 he was on his way to scoring 30 times for United in all competitions, leading Erik ten Hag to a hugely respectable and largely successful first term in charge. Now, he is the target of social media abuse from some of his own fans and has been booed off by portions of the crowd as well.

The Mancunian, who had led the way for the academy in the recent generation of United youngsters, hit his 100th goal for the club last season. He is just one game away from 400 for the Red Devils, yet none of the positivity that usually comes with these achievements is evident.

Rashford has taken to online posts to defend himself from people who jeer his goals and earlier this year his brother spoke out over criticism from the media too. His reputation as a highly-paid attacker without much defensive pedigree has left him open to scathing criticism from supporters and former players.

Local-born graduates tend to find it tougher to thrive in the modern footballing landscape as well, pitted against all the talent in the world at the fingertips of spectators. More tangibly though, his form is poor and that is an immediate frustration that perhaps goes beyond anything else.

Rashford has scored just eight times in all competitions with five assists in 40 matches. He is a long way from the player who scored 10 times in 10 league games between the end of December 2022 and March 2023.