It is almost since 12 months since Marcus Rashford stopped short of pouncing on a loose ball inside the penalty area during Manchester United's 1-0 FA Cup win over Aston Villa last season, generating a sea of groans from the stands.
After Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez had fumbled an effort, allowing the ball to escape his grasp and bounce free inside the 18-yard box, Rashford, instead of trying to get to it first and double United's lead, made no attempt to go for it, instead beginning to turn away before Martinez had even reclaimed it. It was the sign of a man who was not enjoying his football and had scored just three goals all season.
Things barely improved for the academy graduate between that second Monday in January and the end of the season. He ended the campaign with a paltry five goals to his name, a far cry from the 21 he had plundered the season earlier.
