Marcus Rashford reaches Manchester United crossroads as he looks to win back fans

Homegrown forward endured miserable 2021/22 season but is determined for fresh start under new manager Erik ten Hag

Marcus Rashford scored just five goals for Manchester United last season. Reuters

This is not how it was supposed to go.

As all else was ablaze around him, with Manchester United lurching from one disaster to the next in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, one player in particular provided hope of a brighter future, when taking a break from feeding children off the pitch.

But to say things have turned distinctly sour for Marcus Rashford in the last year is an understatement.

No United player, other than perhaps Cristiano Ronaldo and David de Gea, can look themselves in the mirror and say with any great authority that they performed to their best of their abilities last season, but Rashford hit rock bottom.

His own people turned on him, seeing the once homegrown hero as the embodiment of a disinterested and uninspiring United side.

Rather than feel sorry for himself, however, sources have told The National Rashford has decided to take matters into his own hands, knowing that, as he approaches his 25th birthday, this season could be his last chance to show he has what it takes to lead a United renaissance.

Consistency has always been an issue for Rashford since he burst on to the scene with a double against Arsenal on his Premier League debut in 2016.

Much of that could be apportioned to various managers trialling him in different roles across the front three, while several injury problems have also hampered his progress.

However, after returning from shoulder surgery last October with three goals in four games, Rashford looked primed to finally fulfil the potential his fellow Mancunians witnessed from a young age, only to deteriorate quickly once again, as he could muster only two more goals for the rest of the season.

Manchester United ratings for 2021/22 season

MANCHESTER UNITED SEASON RATINGS: David de Gea - 8. A candidate for the club’s player of the year, the Spaniard is United’s undisputed number one and the dips in form which allowed Dean Henderson to challenge him have gone. Spoke out far more this season, as he should have done given his status as a senior member. He’s now 11th in United’s all-time appearance chart with 487. He’d prefer a team trophy to any such plaudits, but his side conceded far too many goals, but that was down to the players in front of him rather than the Madrileno who played far more minutes than any of his teammates. EPA

Dean Henderson - 5. A threat to De Gea’s position during lockdown, Henderson did at least push the Spaniard into getting his act together again. Contracting Covid before the season commenced set him back and he could never get a chance and started only three games all season. As he showed in the previous season, he’s a very good goalkeeper who deserves to be playing regularly. He’s also likely to attract a bigger fee than any other United player this summer. EPA

Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 3. A complete regression for the right-back who has got worse in each of his three seasons at Old Trafford . Played every single minute of the first 13 league games of the season, when the low point was leaving his man to try and retrieve the ball before Liverpool’s opener. Tackles well but doesn’t offer enough going forward, his crossing is poor and and so is positioning at the other end. His last three appearances saw United lose all three, scoring no goals and conceding nine. We understand he wants to stay at Old Trafford and is contracted until 2024, but his new boss’ view of him will be the most important one. EPA

Phil Jones - 4. Thankfully, he’s back after a horrendous run of injuries. Thankfully, showed he’s still capable of playing Premier League football. The support he received playing against Wolves at Old Trafford contrasted sharply with the previous abuse he suffered. Jones is not United’s future and would be better off playing regularly elsewhere. AP

Harry Maguire - 4. His worst season as a United player and in professional football. United’s captain had been a key squad member until an injury in May 2020. Like many who played in Euro 2020, he struggled at the start of the season and was rushed back for Leicester away, but unlike others he kept his place. Unfairly became a figure of mockery when even his good performances were overlooked. Defends well and in the eight games he missed United only won once, but with his confidence hit he made too many errors and looked less secure the further forward he went. He’s determined to stay captain and get back to where he was. Plenty of United fans will back him to do so, as will his new manager. PA

Raphael Varane - 5. Such high hopes when he signed from Real Madrid, but such an underwhelming season followed for him. Varane is a world-class defender and he showed that against Atletico. With a proper pre-season behind him, something he didn’t have last term, he hopes to prove it to United fans. And even when he missed far too many games, he still won a higher percentage of duels than any defender apart from Virgil van Dijk. Awful in the 0-4 defeat at Brighton as the home side cut through United time and again. EPA

Victor Lindelof - 4. Should be in the prime of his career, but he is another with a poor season to his name. His performance at right back away to Atletico was painful to watch. Did well in the opening two games when Varane’s signing was considered imminent, then lost his place to the Frenchman but won it back since Varane was too often injured. Catching Covid didn’t help, nor three managers and the ever-shifting defensive selections. Known as the Ice Man at Benfica, he melted in key moments this season, though it wasn’t just his fault because there was too much space around him to be exploited. He’s well rated at Carrington, let’s see what his new boss thinks of him. AFP

Eric Bailly - 3. Central defender who doesn’t play enough games and has never played enough games. Capable of the sublime and the ridiculous in the same match. Excellent at Chelsea away, but that’s nowhere near sufficient – yet he still had his contract renewed in 2021. EPA

Luke Shaw - 4. Another defender who regressed – they all did. Shaw, 26, had his Euro 2020 hangover but started in 11 of the 12 opening league games. Tangling with Maguire before Liverpool went 2-0 up after 13 minutes was a low point. His side was 4-0 down at half time for the first time in 31 years. United’s defence conceded 57 goals – four more than relegated Burnley. AP

Alex Telles - 5. The Brazilian, 29, got the opportunities after Solskjaer departed and didn’t start in a game United lost until Man City away in March, but in the biggest game at home to Atletico, he turned into his man and lost possession before the ball came in for Atletico’s opener from his side, as it had for their disallowed goal. Suspect when defending, capable of the best crosses at the club and a decent assists too but doesn’t look like a top class full-back. Getty

Diogo Dalot - 6. Got the chances he’d hoped for after a successful season on loan at Milan. Best game was his first league start of the season at home to Arsenal when he pushed right up and got right back. Before that, he’d been blitzed by Villarreal’s Danjuma at Old Trafford. Steadied himself defensively but still too erratic for his position and didn’t find consistency. It wasn’t easy in a failing, flailing, team. EPA

Fred - 7. One of the few who had a better than mediocre season. Moved around, broke up play, energetic. Replicated a famous move by Real Madrid player Redondo at Old Trafford in a bright United start against Atletico and scored four times – important goals too - in the league. Reuters

Scott McTominay - 5. All heart, passion and commitment which too few of those around him showed, but lacks the technical level and often found himself up against better players: Koke, De Bruyne, Rodri, Keita, Henderson et al. Getty

Jadon Sancho - 5. Overall, a disappointing first season after his vast transfer from Dortmund. One of the few players who improved under Rangnick, at least for a few months after Christmas, and his super curling shot against his former club Manchester City for the equaliser was about the only bright moment in another derby hammering. Five goals was a poor return, too. AFP

Nemanja Matic - 5. United’s best player in the worst game of the season, a 4-0 defeat at Brighton. Which would be of zero consolation to him. Played a lot towards the end of the season and brought balance to the side, but was seldom good for the full 90. Left the club of his own accord at the end of the season. Good luck. EPA

Bruno Fernandes - 5. Often frustrated, too often argumentative – and less productive, despite being United’s second top scorer with 10 (and 13 assists). Took United’s 100th corner of the season in January – they’d resulted in zero goals. He signed a huge new contract, not that he’s not been playing well enough to convince fans he deserved it. Could and should be central to United’s rebuild, but needs to reach far better levels. PA

Paul Pogba - 4. Another disappointment and one 95 per cent of fans in one poll would be happy to see go. Started the season well and made seven of his nine assists in the opening four games, then faded like his team and lost his place in the side before being out injured with hamstring issues. He started only 16 league games. Brilliant for France, he scored a pitiful one goal. At 29, he should be at his peak. United fans don’t see that and, out of contract, he looks set to leave on a free transfer for the second time. Getty

Anthony Elanga - 7. Immediately picked out by Rangnick, enjoyed his first league start of the season and he started it well on the left, stretching Villa. Enjoyed a promising start among fans and his equaliser at Atletico was one of the few season highs (not scoring in the cup against Middlesbrough was his low), but by Brighton away he was a spent force who’d faded. Getty

Mason Greenwood - 6. Pass. Reuters

Edinson Cavani - 3. A terrible second season compared to his first, where he finished strongly. The Uruguayan, 35, was in the starting XI for just 18 per cent of United’s games and scored only two goals. Whether it was his groin, calf, tendon, quarantine or an unspecified ‘knock’, he was unfit to play far too often. That annoyed his teammates. Can you blame them? PA

Marcus Rashford - 3. His worst season in red as he started only a third of United’s games – but the previous season was hardly convincing either and his stock has plummeted among fans. Five goals and two assists was a poor return. Recovering from a shoulder injury hadn’t helped and nor did the players around him, but he has to get his form back or his future will be away from Old Trafford. Intends to concentrate on his football next season. Good. AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo - 8. By a distance the top scorer with 24 goals across all competitions, including 18 in the league, the 37-year-old still has impressive stats. He smashed through the 800-goal mark for clubs and country in December and provided most of the best moments of United’s season, scoring in the first five Champions League group games, but not against Atletico in the last 16 when it mattered. Home hat-tricks against Spurs and Norwich lifted the Old Trafford gloom. PA

Juan Mata - 5. The Spaniard was desperate to play more football. Didn’t play a minute in any league game until April but got more minutes towards the end of the season and was effective exploiting pockets of space in his first start against Brentford, less so against Brighton in the following game. Out of contract. Hard to see him staying and he was the last player on the pitch as he waved goodbye to fans at Selhurst Park. EPA

Jesse Lingard - 3. Awful season for him on and off the pitch. Felt he was promised more minutes which didn’t arrive. Wanted to go on loan in January to replicate his loan at West Ham in 201 – and then he didn’t. Out of contract and not leaving quietly. Fans not sad to see him go. PA

Disgruntled supporters had seen enough. As Rashford decided to turn his back on a loose ball in the penalty area during United’s clash with Aston Villa in January, the mood at Old Trafford turned vitriolic, with boos booming down from the terraces and ironic cheers heard as he was later substituted.

Things went from bad to worse as Rashford admitted emotions got the better of him in March after clashing with a fan following United’s 1-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

Nonetheless, Rashford feels the relationship is repairable. What Rashford has done for the city of Manchester earned him a special bond that with renewed application, when the new season gets underway, his team feel can be re-established again.

To set about doing just that, the England forward embarked on a “working holiday” in the US before official pre-season training resumed this week.

While other teammates were perfecting their golf swings on sun-baked golf courses, Rashford undertook an intense, heavy-lifting filled first part of his US fitness trip, before being put through his paces on a visit to Nike’s headquarters in Portland, Oregon.

New Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has Marcus Rashford very much in his plans for next season. PA

The initial conversations with new manager Erik ten Hag have been promising, with the Dutchman already taking a hands-on approach with Rashford in his first session at United’s training base.

There are plans afoot to help Rashford turn things around. Despite some reports suggesting Cristiano Ronaldo plans to seek pastures new, the club have no plans to sell the veteran superstar, and Ten Hag wants to build his attack around him.

That is not to say the United manager is not aware of 37-year-old Ronaldo’s mobility limitations, and he is already working out how to counter any lack of willing to put in the hard yards.

Rashford, on the left of a more youthful forward line that will also include Jadon Sancho and potential new arrival Antony from Ajax, can do just that.

The club feel Ronaldo, much like Eric Cantona did with youngsters during his time in England, can have a huge influence on those around him in training. A knowledgeable, caring hand on the shoulder is just what one struggling local lad needs.

Last season has shown Rashford just how bad things can get. A fresh start was needed, for club and player. Now the homegrown hero must prove his worth, or risk the feelgood tale having an unsavoury ending, away from his beloved city.