Marcus Rashford's Comeback: A Driving Force for Manchester United
Harry Maguire believes Marcus Rashford is ready to become a driving force at Manchester United again – and this time, to stay.
Rashford made his first Premier League start for the club in 21 months in the 5-2 win over Ipswich at Old Trafford, and immediately looked like the old danger. Sharp, direct, constantly asking questions of defenders. For a player who only a few months ago seemed destined to leave, it felt like a reset.
Not long ago, his United future looked broken. Rashford fell out with former manager Ruben Amorim, lost his place, and was sent on loan first to Aston Villa and then to Barcelona. The Catalan club had the option to keep him permanently for £26m and, for a while, that looked the likeliest outcome. They didn’t trigger the clause. The window closes on Tuesday night and, now, Rashford staying at his boyhood club feels almost certain.
Maguire, who has lived his own version of that story, did not hide his admiration.
"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 has carried criticism for years now. The noise started in the latter stages of Erik ten Hag’s tenure and never really went away. His work-rate has been questioned, his commitment doubted, even his love for the game held up for debate.
Time away changed the picture. Under Unai Emery at Villa and Hansi Flick at Barcelona, Rashford rediscovered rhythm and responsibility. Now he returns to a club where the head coach, Michael Carrick, knows him as a teenager, a prospect, and a senior pro. That familiarity matters.
"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 territory. He lost his place and the captaincy under Ten Hag and looked, at one stage, certain to move on. He stayed, fought back, and now speaks with the authority of someone who has worn the scars.
"He's come back in, really fit and sharp and we're excited to have him," he added.
Carrick has described Rashford as “like a new signing”, and at Old Trafford that phrase usually carries weight. The United boss has already shown he can revive careers. Kobbie Mainoo is the clearest example.
Overlooked repeatedly by Amorim, the midfielder has been transformed under Carrick. Then came another blow: a World Cup call-up from England boss Thomas Tuchel, but no minutes on the pitch. Carrick now has to rebuild him again.
Against Ipswich, Mainoo started his first game of the season and, after United fell behind, gradually took hold of the contest.
"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."
United’s revival under Carrick will not be judged on one wild 5-2 win over Ipswich, nor on one resurgent display from Rashford or Mainoo. But with the window closing and two careers swinging back towards Old Trafford instead of away from it, the question now is simple: can this be the season when talent finally meets stability?
