Rashford may be causing quite a fuss at Old Trafford, but has a long way to go before he can match his legendary team-mate.
Marcus Rashford has only ever known the good at Manchester United. Turning 19 on Halloween, Old Trafford’s latest homegrown hero grew up marvelling at his predecessors in their pomp; Paul Scholes’ Hollywood diagonals, Ryan Giggs’ dizzying darts, Gary Neville’s inspirational, badge-kissing passion.
In fact, he is now the emerging saviour in the most inadequate United team of his lifetime, desperately doing his bit to restore his boyhood club to the heights that captured his imagination as a wide-eyed youngster, dreaming of a future in red while honing his finishing between jumpers styled as goalposts.
It would be little surprise then, if Rashford had devoted a fair few hours attempting to recreate a goal Sir Alex Ferguson described as one of the greatest he had ever seen at Old Trafford.
United’s striking sensation was just 13 years old when Wayne Rooney arched into the air and elicited the momentary silence before the deafening roar at the Theatre of Dreams. There are worse ways to win a derby.
Rooney’s scarcely believable overhead kick in February 2011 consigned Roberto Mancini’s City to defeat and set United on their way to a record-breaking 19th Premier League title. It was a moment of unparalleled genius that glazes the eyes of United supporters the world over, Rashford included.
The young prince may be about usurp Old Trafford’s long-standing king in Jose Mourinho’s long term plans but, whatever the future holds for Wayne Rooney, that remarkable goal will forever remain in folklore.
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