Harry Maguire Supports Marcus Rashford's Manchester United Comeback

Harry Maguire believes Marcus Rashford is ready to play a major role for Manchester United again – and says the forward is returning as “a great asset” after a turbulent spell away from Old Trafford.

Rashford made his first Premier League start for United in 21 months in the 5-2 win over Ipswich at Old Trafford, and immediately looked like one of the home side’s main attacking threats. For a player who, not long ago, seemed to be edging towards the exit, it felt like a reset.

Once frozen out under former boss Ruben Amorim, Rashford was shipped out on loan to Aston Villa and then Barcelona. The Catalan club had the option to make the deal permanent for £26m and there were stretches of last season when that looked the most likely outcome. They passed. Now, with the transfer window closing on Tuesday night, the expectation inside United is that Rashford will stay at his boyhood club.

Maguire is in no doubt about what that can mean for United.

“He’s a great talent,” the defender said. “He’s always a threat.

“If Marcus wants to be here, wants to work, wants to improve and help the team, of course we’re willing to have him in the team.

“He could still do a lot more and I think he’ll say he can do more but if we keep him fit, we keep him happy, he keeps driven and hungry, he’s a great asset to have.”

Rashford’s return comes against a backdrop of criticism that has followed him for years. The questions have rarely stopped: about his work-rate, his commitment, even whether he still enjoys playing football. The noise only grew during the latter stages of Erik ten Hag’s time in charge.

Time away changed the picture. Working under Unai Emery at Aston Villa and Hansi Flick at Barcelona appears to have sharpened aspects of his game and his mindset. Back at United, the presence of head coach Michael Carrick – someone who knows him well from his earlier years at the club – is seen as another key factor in getting him back to his best.

“You’ve got to remember Marcus has had a wonderful career for this club,” Maguire said.

“But when you play at this club for numerous years, there’s going to be bad seasons, and when the bad seasons come everyone piles on you. That’s part and parcel of playing for this club.

“As a club, we haven’t been perfect from top to bottom. We haven’t been challenging at the top end. So, Marcus has been part of a rough ride for Manchester United.

“When that happens, players get dug out. I’ve been through it.”

Maguire knows the terrain. He lost both his place and the captaincy under Ten Hag and looked certain to move on at one stage. He stayed, fought his way back into the side and now speaks as someone who has lived the cycle Rashford is trying to break.

“[Rashford’s] come back in, really fit and sharp and we’re excited to have him,” he added.

Carrick has described Rashford as feeling like a new signing. The United manager has already shown he can revive careers, with Kobbie Mainoo a prime example. The midfielder was repeatedly overlooked by Amorim, only to be transformed into a central figure under Carrick.

Now Carrick faces a different task with Mainoo: lifting him again after England boss Thomas Tuchel chose not to use him at the World Cup.

Mainoo, like Rashford, started his first game of the season in the win over Ipswich. United had fallen behind, but the young midfielder grew into the contest, imposing himself more as the game stretched.

“I thought he was brilliant,” said Maguire.

“To say he hasn’t had many minutes in pre-season, he was magnificent.

“His work without the ball has improved so much since Michael’s been in. He’s becoming a real monster in there, wins a lot of second balls and a lot of duels.

“The thing is he’s so young. If we want him to play for this club for another 10 years, there’s going to be times where he’s going to go through a patch like I spoke about with Rashy and myself.

“But that’s part and parcel. He’s really level-headed, really composed and has great belief in his ability.

“He’s going to be a magnificent player for this club for many years.”

For United, the hope is clear. Rashford rediscovering his edge on the left, Mainoo maturing into a midfield force, and Carrick stitching it all together. After years of turbulence, can this be the core that finally drags the club back towards the top?