Michael Owen says Manchester United need to bring in a centre-forward who can score as many goals as Marcus Rashford in order to be among the title favourites next season.
Rashford has netted 21 goals this season, the latest of which came in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Leeds. Owen said the attacker is “carrying” United scoring-wise at the moment and that Erik ten Hag needs to bring in a centre-forward who can contribute amid Anthony Martial’s inconsistent form and fitness struggles.
Speaking on Premier League Productions, he said: “People questioned when [Cristiano] Ronaldo left [in November], who can score the goals. Martial has never done it consistently. Rashford, you wouldn’t say he’s prolific would you until this season?
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“[But] he’s the person that has stepped up, he’s now the go-to man. Manchester United still want a centre-forward and if they get a centre-forward who can score a similar amount of goals as Marcus Rashford then they’re in business and title contenders.
“At the moment he’s carrying the team from a goal scoring point of view. He is the go-to man at the moment and that is amazing. That's brilliant.”
Owen hailed the consistency Rashford has shown since the World Cup, having scored in eight of his last nine Premier League outings. He said: “We know he’s got those performances in him but to show the consistency, I think it’s fair to say no matter whether he plays down the middle or off the left - or off the right for that matter - he’s playing particularly well.”
West Ham striker Michail Antonio, who was on punditry duty alongside Owen, believes Rashford’s best position is on the left flank, which is where he has scored most of his goals from this season.
He said: “I don't think he’s a number nine, I think he’s a left winger. I don’t see him as a number nine, he needs to pick it up in space, he likes to run at people and create. He gets more goals from coming off the left than he does actually playing number nine and having his back to play.”
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