Manchester United icon Paul Scholes hit out at Marcus Rashford for being "a little bit stupid" after the striker was surprisingly left on the bench against Wolves on Saturday.
The in-form Red Devils' striker headed into the game looking to extend his recent positive run. Before the trip to the Midlands, he had scored 10 goals in 21 appearances in all competitions - form that was also on display at the World Cup in Qatar.
Rashford continued that run after returning from Qatar with a standout performance in the Red Devils' victory against Nottingham Forest. He was left out of the starting line-up against Wolves though, with the official reason given by the Old Trafford club being 'disciplinary'.
Former United midfielder Scholes gave his view on Rashford's omission and suggested that the forward was to blame and worried for his development going forwards. Speaking to BT Sport, he said: "He’s jeopardising his own form a little bit being stupid or whatever he’s done is wrong and the manager has seen it to take him out the team.
"But when he is on form, he’s looked so happy and if you look over the last 18 months, he’s looked miserable and hasn’t performed, could this jeopardise him going forward? He looks a bit miserable there [warming up] because he’s not playing but I hope it doesn’t jeopardise the next six months of the season."
Whilst Scholes laid blame at Rashford's door for his place on the bench, fellow former Red Devil Rio Ferdinand was left disappointed by the England man's absence. He did however praise Ten Hag for a brave decision.
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He said: "Per 90 minutes this has been his [Rashford's] best return for goals and assists in his Man United career. It’s disappointing, as a fan you want to see your best players and form he’s one of the best [right now], he’s one of the first names on the teamsheet at the moment in time so it’s disappointing.
"On the same note you’re pleased the manager is keeping to form if there’s things behind the scenes he’s not happy with, you get disciplined."
In Rashford's absence, French forward Anthony Martial was selected to lead the line for the Red Devils at Molineux. It represented just his fourth Premier League start of the campaign.
Ferdinand had his doubts over whether the former Monaco starlet could be a long-term option for Ten Hag with the striker having so far failed to meet his early promise. The former defender added: "I’d love to find out from him, is he satisfied with what he’s doing in a Man United shirt?
"His Man United career, is Martial happy with what he’s achieved?
"I hope he isn't, I hope is not happy because there’s so much more. When he burst onto the scene at Old Trafford scoring those goals against Liverpool, everyone’s going ‘oh my god, this teenager’ £50m, Thierry Henry vibes."
