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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Richard Fay

Manchester United must give Marcus Rashford what Cristiano Ronaldo wanted

When things are going well for you as a striker, everything you touch finds the back of the net. Marcus Rashford is in the form of his life and on such a positive run that even his viciously deflected effort against Newcastle was awarded to him when it was clearly an own goal.

It felt like 'just another' strike from the United marksman to add to his collection this season, but it was a goal that symbolised a lot as he took his tally to a landmark figure.

Rashford has now hit 25 goals in all competitions for United this season, a figure that is not only significant because it is his record tally for a single campaign, but because it is more than Cristiano Ronaldo notched throughout all of last season.

Read next: United might have a new player in their best starting XI

It was as recently as last April that interim manager Ralf Rangnick referenced an overreliance on Ronaldo as he led the way for goals at the club.

"Yes, right now, we very much rely on Cristiano, he also showed a good performance when Chelsea were in possession. There has to be a focus on bringing in a couple of new strikers for sure."

Last season, the Portuguese striker outscored everyone else, with Bruno Fernandes the only other player to reach double figures with ten goals in all competitions. Rashford netted just five.

Few people saw such a transformation coming, and even Rashford's most devoted fan would admit there have always been concerns about his consistency in front of goal.

Yet, here we are a year later, with the 25-year-old the poster boy for Erik ten Hag's side, a man who relishes the responsibility of always finding the back of the net for his team.

It is the same pressure and privilege that Ronaldo had last season. So often, it felt that if he didn't score, then United wouldn't either. Rashford is not only emulating but also eclipsing that role with his outrageous output.

All eyes will be on the England international to find the back of the net again when United face West Ham in the FA Cup tomorrow night and Liverpool in the Premier League at the weekend.

That is the same expectation that was placed on Ronaldo during his United pomp, and it is a huge credit to Rashford that he has so often been able to deliver the goods to go along with it this season.

The issue for United, though, was reinforced earlier this week when Sir Alex Ferguson also acknowledged the need for another forward who can help take the burden off Rashford next season.

“I don’t think he’s a striker," the legendary manager told Sky Sports. “He operates from the left-hand side fantastic, his finishing is always good, always keeps his shots down which is really important for a striker and he’s in a great vein of form.

“Unfortunately for us, (Rashford) is the main source of goals, we could do with an extra one, but he’s doing it.”

Ronaldo's fallout at United in part stemmed from his frustration at slow transfer market activity last summer, and it is important that they can convince Rashford that he is in the right place to achieve his long-term goals.

A key element of this will be to add a new striker to the squad at the end of the season, which will lessen the burden on Rashford but also allow him to shine in his preferred attacking role.

There was always a concern that the goals could dry up for the academy graduate, though it is a testament to him that he has prolonged the purple patch so long that it now feels permanent.

Rashford has helped United move on from Ronaldo, but now they find themselves back in a similar situation where they are relying on one player to grab most of their goals.

United have a new headline act; he just needs the support to go with it.

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