Andros Townsend: Rashford waiting for the penny to drop

Former Premier League winger Andros Townsend judges Manchester United’s wingers and the role they are expected to play.

Several of United’s wingers are underperforming the club has already waved goodbye to Mason Greenwood this summer, while Jadon Sancho and Antony both face uncertainty around their futures at the club after struggling to justify their mega-money transfer deals to Old Trafford.

Speaking to the Monday Night Club via BBC Sport, Townsend said: “You look at Amad [Diallo] who has come in, he understands tactically what’s needed from him out of possession. When he needs to press the full-back, press the centre-back or goalkeeper. He seems to get it.

“On the other side, I think Rashford is still stuck in an old-school winger mentality where you are resting out of possession, getting your breath back and when you get the ball you go again. The game has evolved.

“I was in the same situation when I was younger, but eventually the penny dropped. I think we’re still waiting for the penny to drop with Rashford and I hope it’s sooner rather than later. He needs to grasp it this season.”

Rashford has not started the 2024/25 as strongly as he would’ve wanted, and United legend Dwight Yorke has warned the forward that only he can drag himself out of this slump.

Speaking to talkSPORT, as quoted by The Mirror, Yorke said: “You have to find out where the individual is at, what is going through his head, what is his thought process in his everyday life. At the end of the day, we all have issues, we all have tough times in our lives.

“I am sure that being left out of the England set-up last year, you expect him to come back with a little bit of fire in his belly and kick on after a poor season by his standards. Marcus Rashford is the only person who can get himself out of that slump.

“You can bring in the best coaches around him, but he has to have that burning desire to get himself back. We know he has all the talent and all the ability.

“But if he is not prepared to put that effort in and really bring himself back from his poorest season last year, he is not going to get back to that level. He has to want to do it.

“I have defended Marcus many times, but he just seems unhappy. For whatever reason I don’t know, but just does not seem to be enjoying his football like he used to.”

This slow start precedes the last campaign, which saw Rashford only contribute seven goals and three assists in 33 Premier League appearances under Erik ten Hag.

Rashford is now being outshone by Amad and Alejandro Garnacho. Both players have made more impactful contributions to the team in the first two games of the season.

The England international was also left out of Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad which reached the final of Euro 2024.

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