Marcus Rashford is hoping to feel the benefits of a full pre-season and a good summer break as he embarks on a crucial year for his Manchester United career.
Rashford's Old Trafford future was hanging in the balance at the end of last season, with a prolonged slump in form showing no signs of ending in what was a disastrous campaign for the club.
The 24-year-old scored just five goals in 32 appearances in 2021/22 and he started only five of the final 16 games of the season, despite United struggling with injuries in attacking areas.
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That led the academy graduate to consider his future at his boyhood club, but he's been encouraged by the arrival of Erik ten Hag and hopes to benefit from some hands-on coaching at Carrington under the Dutchman, who has a track record of improving players at Ajax.
Rashford has also managed to reap the benefits of a longer than usual summer break, having lost his place in Gareth Southgate's England squad. That also means an earlier return to pre-season training than he's used to and the forward has spent this week working under Ten Hag at Carrington.
"I don't think I have had a proper pre-season since 2019 so for me it is definitely a positive thing. I feel like I probably needed that time to switch off a little bit and me having that time enabled me to refocus a lot earlier than I expected to be honest," Rashford told MUTV.
"[The break] was just a few days over four weeks and I always split it in half, so I had two weeks when I was just relaxing and a little over two weeks when I was training so it's been a good period for me.
"Like I say, I feel ready and focused so when that first game does come it's good to know you have done almost six weeks of training beforehand. It will definitely be a positive.”
Rashford looked jaded towards the end of last season, having seen his form at United spiral for the past couple of years, and he struggled to force his way into Ralf Rangnick's team.
But he had a prolonged break at the end of the season and tried to make the most of it, returning to pre-season training last week with a positive mindset.
"I think, well I have definitely not had that much rest before in a summer break, so it was a little bit strange at first and I had to adjust my program a little bit, make it a little bit longer, so I could come in with a positive look on everything, and like I say we are excited to go away [on tour] now," he said.
"You feel every day now you are getting that one step sharper and one step fitter to being ready for the season. It is a fresh start for everyone and for me personally I have had quite a long break, a nice camp before coming back into training, and how we are starting off on the right foot."
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