The Manchester United forward scored twice in two games for England over the international break.
England boss Gareth Southgate has compared Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford to Cristiano Ronaldo and suggested the Englishman is further ahead at his age, leading to an uproar among some United fans.
Rashford has scored England’s only two goals during the international break, slotting one past club-mate David de Gea in the 2-1 loss to Spain and putting in a back post volley in the 1-0 victory against Switzerland.
The 20-year-old’s impressive performances went beyond just his goals. In both fixtures he looked England’s most dangerous attacking threat and played in the direct, fearless style United fans have yearned for from him.
Having broken into the United first-team at the age of 18, Rashford has already made 126 appearances for the Red Devils, grabbing 32 goals and 17 assists. But he has struggled to hold down a starting place due to the competition caused by the emergence of Jesse Lingard and the arrivals of Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez.
The England international has made three appearances for the Red Devils this season, all of which have come off the bench.
The Mirror has reported that following the victory over Switzerland, Southgate suggested Rashford’s performances for England would boost his confidence and emphasised that he was still an emerging player with world-class potential.
“Yes he is (a special talent),” Southgate told the Mirror. “We have to remember that I don’t think Harry Kane, at that age, had hardly played anywhere near the matches for Spurs, really.”
“Even if some of those other top players who have broken into the team, some of the step-overs and things Ronaldo was doing at that age, but he wasn’t converting them into the number of goals, so we have got to give him time to develop.”
The England manager’s comments were not well received by some United fans, with many criticising the pressure he could be putting on Rashford by drawing the comparison.
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