For the first time in what felt like an age, Marcus Rashford was actually smiling while on the pitch for Manchester United. Yet, it was a grin of incredulity as he looked on in disbelief at the red card being thrust his way.
What had been one of United’s most impressive performances of the season – not an entirely competitive honour admittedly – was derailed by the second dismissal of Rashford’s career. In his absence, United conceded four goals against Copenhagen in midweek to slump to the club’s ninth defeat in 17 games this term.
Amid this collective turmoil, Rashford has endured a bleak individual run in front of goal, finding the net just once all season – a third of Scott McTominay’s haul.
At perhaps the lowest ebb of Rashford’s career, he brings up a landmark appearance for United that underscores his unmistakable talent.
By lining up for United against Luton Town on Saturday, Rashford earned his 250th Premier League appearance. Less than two weeks after his 26th birthday, Rashford is the youngest player to ever hit this milestone for Manchester United, surpassing the legendarily prodigious Ryan Giggs.
|
Player |
Year of 250th PL appearance |
Age at 250th PL appearance |
|---|---|---|
|
Marcus Rashford |
2023 |
26 years and 11 days |
|
Ryan Giggs |
2000 |
26 years and 167 days |
|
Wayne Rooney |
2012 |
26 years and 195 days |
|
David Beckham |
2002 |
27 years and 240 days |
|
Gary Neville |
2003 |
27 years and 317 days |
|
Phil Neville |
2004 |
27 years and 342 days |
|
David de Gea |
2018 |
28 years and 17 days |
|
Paul Scholes |
2003 |
28 years and 85 days |
|
Nicky Butt |
2003 |
28 years and 207 days |
|
John O’Shea |
2011 |
29 years and 302 days |
|
Roy Keane |
2003 |
31 years and 161 days |
|
Patrice Evra |
2013 |
32 years and 179 days |
|
Rio Ferdinand |
2011 |
33 years and 26 days |
|
Michael Carrick |
2014 |
33 years and 127 days |
|
Denis Irwin |
1999 |
34 years and 34 days |
|
Peter Schmeichel |
1999 |
35 years and 172 days |
By the inaugural Premier League season which kicked off in the summer of 1992, Giggs was already a Manchester United regular as a teenager. When he finished that maiden campaign as the club’s second-top scorer, he was still living at home with his step-father and mother, who would not hesitate in telling him off for having a messy bedroom.
Giggs eventually racked up 632 Premier League appearances – a record in the competition until Gareth Barry surpassed his haul in 2017. The 13-time Premier League champion had been retired for less than two years when Rashford made his Premier League debut in 2016, with Giggs the assistant to manager Louis van Gaal. At just 18, Rashford marked his maiden top-flight appearance with a brace against Arsenal.
The Gunners are the only club to concede a goal scored by Rashford this term – though his drought has not been for a lack of trying.
Going into this weekend’s round of fixtures, only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland had taken more Premier League shots than Rashford. However, no player in the division has had more of their efforts blocked.
Erik ten Hag declared that he wants his United side to be “the best transition team in the world”. “We want to surprise. We want to play dynamic, we want to play with speed, we want to play aggressive,” the upbeat coach chirped during pre-season.
Ten Hag explained that this style was in keeping with Manchester United’s history but it also perfectly lined up with Rashford’s strengths. Only two Premier League players scored more goals via counter-attacks than United’s fleet-footed number ten last term.
Rashford’s only strike of the current campaign came at the sharp end of a breakaway against Arsenal but United have struggled to consistently create these chances in transition. A combination of conflicting factors – be that the club’s off-field turmoil, a clunky integration of new players and opposition teams alert to United’s strengths (and limitations) – has contributed to this drop-off.
Every player to rack up 250 Premier League appearances for United has won the title – apart from Rashford. All those individuals had the benefit of playing under Sir Alex Ferguson, a luxury and security which Rashford has never enjoyed.
There’s little doubt that Rashford’s individual form is swayed by the collective mood at United. While racking up a career-best 30 goals last term, Rashford explained that “a completely different energy around the club and the training ground” put him “in a better headspace”.
Ahead of Saturday’s match with Luton, Ten Hag underscored the dramatically contrasting energy looming over United and Rashford. “He is not happy. We are not happy,” the Dutchman bluntly stated.
Rashford should take pride in reaching a landmark appearance at a younger age than any other player in the modern history of United – a club that was propelled to success by Ferguson’s faith in youth. But it would probably take a goal, or another controversial red card, for him to smile again.
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