Marcus Rashford's Resurgence at Manchester United

Harry Maguire believes Marcus Rashford is ready to become a driving force at Manchester United again – and this time, for the long haul.

Rashford made his first Premier League start for the club in 21 months in the 5-2 win over Ipswich at Old Trafford, a chaotic, goal-heavy afternoon that felt like a reset for more than one United career. The 28-year-old, once again in red and central to United’s attacking play, looked far removed from the forward whose future at the club had been all but written off.

Not long ago, Rashford’s United story seemed to be winding towards an exit. A fallout with former manager Ruben Amorim pushed him out on loan first to Aston Villa, then to Barcelona. The Catalan club had the option to keep him permanently for £26m and, for a while, it seemed a clean break might suit everyone.

Barcelona did not trigger the clause. The transfer window shuts on Tuesday night. Rashford, barring late drama, stays at his boyhood club.

And inside the dressing room, that prospect is being welcomed.

"He's a great talent," said Maguire. "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."

The words land with weight because Rashford has lived under a cloud for some time. The criticism has followed him through managers and seasons, stretching back to Erik ten Hag’s reign. His work-rate, his commitment, even the basic question of whether he still enjoys football – all dragged out, dissected, debated.

His time away from Old Trafford may yet prove pivotal. Under Unai Emery at Aston Villa and Hansi Flick at Barcelona, Rashford found different demands, new voices, a change of scenery. Those close to the club believe that experience has sharpened him, and that his relationship with current head coach Michael Carrick – a man who knows him and the club inside out – gives him a better platform than he has had in years.

"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 exactly what that looks like. He lost his place, lost the captaincy, and for a stretch looked certain to be heading out of the door under Ten Hag. Now he, too, has fought his way back into the picture. His defence of Rashford is not abstract; it’s born from experience.

"He's come back in, really fit and sharp and we're excited to have him," Maguire added.

Carrick has described Rashford as feeling like a new signing. On Saturday, that wasn’t the only fresh face to change the mood.

Kobbie Mainoo, another player whose pathway had stalled under Amorim, started his first game of the season against Ipswich. United fell behind, the tension rose, and then Mainoo began to grow. He took more responsibility on the ball, snapped into duels, and gradually bent the midfield to his rhythm.

"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."

Carrick had already revived Mainoo once after Amorim repeatedly overlooked him. Now he has another job: rebuilding the youngster’s confidence after England boss Thomas Tuchel left him unused at the World Cup. That kind of setback can bruise a young player. United are determined it will instead harden him.

"The thing is he's so young," Maguire said. "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."

So United move into the final days of the window with two familiar faces feeling strangely new. Rashford, once on the brink of the exit, now being talked about as a key weapon again. Mainoo, still at the start of his story, already being asked to carry more weight.

If Carrick can keep Rashford fit and hungry, and guide Mainoo through the inevitable bumps, this season might not just be about repair at Old Trafford. It might be about resurgence.