• Manchester United's Marcus Rashford during the match against Newcastle United at Old Trafford. AFP
    Manchester United's Marcus Rashford during the match against Newcastle United at Old Trafford. AFP
  • Marcus Rashford scores Manchester United's third goal against Newcastle United at Old Trafford on Boxing Day. Getty Images
    Marcus Rashford scores Manchester United's third goal against Newcastle United at Old Trafford on Boxing Day. Getty Images
  • Manchester United's Mason Greenwood, right, celebrates after scoring his team's second goal on Thursday. AFP
    Manchester United's Mason Greenwood, right, celebrates after scoring his team's second goal on Thursday. AFP
  • Manchester United's Marcus Rashford takes on Newcastle United's Martin Dubravka. Reuters
    Manchester United's Marcus Rashford takes on Newcastle United's Martin Dubravka. Reuters
  • Manchester United's Paul Pogba, right, and Newcastle United's Florian Lejeune vie for the ball. PA
    Manchester United's Paul Pogba, right, and Newcastle United's Florian Lejeune vie for the ball. PA
  • Manchester United's Anthony Martial, right, scores his team's fourth goal at Old Trafford. EPA
    Manchester United's Anthony Martial, right, scores his team's fourth goal at Old Trafford. EPA
  • Manchester United's Paul Pogba takes on Newcastle United's Martin Dubravka. Reuters
    Manchester United's Paul Pogba takes on Newcastle United's Martin Dubravka. Reuters
  • Manchester United's Mason Greenwood vies for the ball with Newcastle's Sean Longstaff at Old Trafford. EPA
    Manchester United's Mason Greenwood vies for the ball with Newcastle's Sean Longstaff at Old Trafford. EPA
  • Anthony Martial celebrates with teammate Scott McTominay after scoring his team's first goal against Newcastle United. Getty Images
    Anthony Martial celebrates with teammate Scott McTominay after scoring his team's first goal against Newcastle United. Getty Images
  • Anthony Martial scored a brace against Newcastle United on Thursday. Getty Images
    Anthony Martial scored a brace against Newcastle United on Thursday. Getty Images
  • Manchester United's Mason Greenwood celebrates after scoring against Newcastle. AFP
    Manchester United's Mason Greenwood celebrates after scoring against Newcastle. AFP
  • Manchester United's Marcus Rashford vies for the ball with Newcastle United's Martin Dubravka. AFP
    Manchester United's Marcus Rashford vies for the ball with Newcastle United's Martin Dubravka. AFP
  • Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer greets Anthony Martial. EPA
    Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer greets Anthony Martial. EPA
  • Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during the match at Old Trafford. Getty Images
    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during the match at Old Trafford. Getty Images

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer compares Marcus Rashford to a young Cristiano Rolando


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Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer compared Marcus Rashford to a young Cristiano Rolando after his young strikers starred in Thursday's 4-1 win over Newcastle United.

Anthony Martial netted a brace while Rashford and Mason Greenwood hit the target before halftime as the hosts recovered from conceding an early goal to seal victory that lifted them to seventh in the table with 28 points.

Solskjaer took off Martial, 24, in the second half, denying him the chance to become the club's first Premier League hat-trick scorer since 2013. The Norwegian said he did not want to risk injury ahead of Saturday's game with Burnley.

"He's getting fit and is playing more games. We have another match in 48 hours and I can't risk the forwards," Solskjaer, who also substituted Rashford, said.

"We don't have too many of them. It was an easy decision to take Anthony and Marcus off to get them ready for Burnley."

While Martial scored his ninth goal of the season, Rashford, 22, took his overall tally to 15 with a header.

"Marcus is a physical specimen. He is looking after himself and working hard in the gym. He's got that spring and has worked on it. It's about courage and getting up there," Solskjaer said.

"I remember a boy I used to play with who could head it well when he was close to goal. We compare him to Cristiano [Ronaldo] often, it's one of those where it can be another string to his bow because Cristiano had it when he was getting to that age."

Solskjaer also praised 18-year-old Greenwood, who has reduced Rashford's burden with nine goals in all competitions.

"Mason can hit it with both feet and he's an exceptional finisher ... we're not going to see the best of Mason for a couple of years," Solskjaer said.

"I can remember when I was 18 and I wasn't anywhere near playing at the level he is."