Wayne Rooney believes Marcus Rashford enjoying his football again has been key to the Manchester United striker's improved confidence and form.
Rashford is enjoying his best season in a United shirt, with his 27 goals across all competitions already an individual record with two months and up to 19 games remaining. Since returning from the World Cup in particular, the 25-year-old has been in scintillating form as arguably one of Europe's most dangerous forwards.
His form has coincided with the arrival and influence of Ten Hag and Rooney believes that has been the key to a record-breaking campaign for the Reds star.
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"If you think back to only a year ago, Marcus was in and out of the starting XI, hardly scoring, playing in different positions and the smile I remembered from that lovely kid who came through the ranks and broke into our team when I was captain was gone," Rooney wrote in his column for the Times.
"Now, he looks a totally different player and to be in a great place off the pitch as well. You can see he is enjoying his football and is more positive in his running. He penetrates with his runs off the ball and commits defenders when he’s on the ball — doing everything I wrote about wanting to see from him.
"He has always been a good finisher but, in front of goal, you can see the improvement that comes from confidence. He is taking his chances now without a second’s thought whereas before he was overthinking and taking that extra second, then not being as decisive with his finish as he should be."
Rashford came under some bizarre scrutiny during the international break for taking a trip to New York while injured. The forward withdrew from international duty after being assessed by England's medical team, with Ten Hag sanctioning a brief break before what is set to be a hectic run-in.
"I would trust any call Ten Hag makes with him, because Ten Hag has handled Marcus so well," Rooney added. "His man-management has been a major strength. From everything I’ve heard about him, a lot of what he does is actually common sense. There are high demands on the players in training sessions and in games but at the training ground you need to create an environment where people enjoy coming to work and that is what he has done."
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