Marcus Rashford is being made to pay for Manchester United’s biggest transfer failure – Tyrone Marshall

When Marcus Rashford was requested to maneuver from the appropriate of the Manchester United assault to the left at The Hawthorns on Sunday it was a trudge throughout the pitch he has turn into used to.

In three of his final six video games for United Rashford has occupied each wing positions in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s three-pronged assault at one stage or one other. Solely twice since December has the 23-year-old began successive video games in the identical place within the frontline for United, so it is hardly a shock he is struggling for type in the meanwhile.

Rashford is clearly thought-about probably the most versatile of the 4 forwards Solskjaer tends to select from. Whereas Anthony Martial both performs on the left or because the striker, Edinson Cavani solely ever leads the road and Mason Greenwood isn’t seen anyplace however the appropriate.

For Rashford that isn’t the case. He does not look to benefit from the right-wing position however accepts the graveyard shift when Martial and Cavani are in the identical facet. When Martial is changed by Greenwood, as occurred at West Brom, he normally strikes to the left.

Rashford has swapped place throughout a match in 13 of his 30 begins this season. Of his 37 appearances, Transfermarkt have him down as having performed on the left 19 instances, at centre ahead 12 instances and on the appropriate on six events.

These appearances by way of the center have tended to return when United have used a diamond midfield in a 4-4-2 or when Cavani was nonetheless returning to match health and Martial was unavailable.

Rashford’s output has slowed of late, though he nonetheless has two targets and three assists in his final seven appearances and his tally of 16 targets and 9 assists would recommend he is effectively on the right track to beat final season’s tally of twenty-two targets and 9 assists. He is been irritating to look at lately however whereas Martial seems to be simply off form, Rashford remains to be producing superb moments in video games, however appears to be a little bit wanting confidence and failing to affect matches for the period, reasonably in patches.

However there is not any doubt Solskjaer’s struggles to land on a favoured entrance three are hurting the academy graduate this season, who is usually the participant shoehorned into a special position to suit the system. Final season Rashford performed 36 video games from the left and eight as centre ahead, in keeping with Transfermarkt.

There’s an argument in the meanwhile that Rashford, Cavani and Greenwood is United’s most balanced entrance three, however then rotation is a key a part of Solskjaer’s armoury this season and he will not keep on with that trio for lengthy earlier than a change is made to clean up the facet and permit key gamers a relaxation.

So the actual challenge right here is United’s failure to sign a first-team ready right-winger final summer time. They may have signed two thrilling prospects in Facundo Pellistri and Amad nevertheless it was unrealistic to anticipate both teenager to stroll straight into the beginning XI.

The fruitless pursuit of Jadon Sancho and the choice to not recruit another has meant Rashford has been used all throughout the entrance line this season.

United’s determination to not collapse to Borussia Dortmund’s calls for over Sancho have been confirmed to be right. With Dortmund trying more and more prone to miss out on the highest 4 within the Bundesliga Sancho shall be cheaper this summer time – though United will face extra competitors – and the continued absence of matchday revenues confirmed how unsustainable a switch payment of greater than £100million was final summer time.

However that does not excuse United’s tardiness in failing to pursue another goal as a short-term possibility, that has left them wanting choices on the appropriate and weak to a drop in type for Greenwood, which was at all times believable given his youth.

These selections have pressured Rashford into a job he is not effectively suited too. Sancho will definitely be on the transfer this summer time, so whether or not United land their high goal or not, a right-winger must be high of the procuring listing.