The Aston Villa loanee ended a 120-day goal drought by scoring twice in the second half against Preston on Sunday. His performance helped Unai Emery’s side secure an FA Cup semi-final spot against Crystal Palace and demonstrated that he is enjoying football again.
After being sidelined from Manchester United’s first team by head coach Ruben Amorim shortly after he took over from Erik ten Hag, it was clear to those close to Rashford that he had a significant point to prove when he completed his loan move to Aston Villa on February 3.
Those working with him have noticed his improvement. While he may not yet have returned to his former level, he is a far cry from the passive player he seemed to be at Old Trafford for much of the previous 18 months.
“It’s a great feeling,” Rashford told reporters. “It’s always nice for a forward to score, so hopefully it continues.”
England manager Thomas Tuchel seemed to share in that sentiment, quickly reinstating Rashford to the international team earlier this month.
However, there were many skeptics. They expressed their doubts on social media during the first half of Villa’s 3-0 FA Cup quarter-final victory at Preston when Rashford squandered a couple of free-kicks while the team struggled to convert their dominance into goals.
Ultimately, a striker’s success is measured by their ability to score, and Rashford had not found the net in 14 games since scoring twice for United against Everton on December 1.
But when Lucas Digne created an opportunity 13 minutes into the second half at Deepdale, Rashford showcased his innate ability by calmly choosing his spot and finding the bottom corner.
Just five minutes later, after a wait for the video assistant referee (VAR) to confirm that Villa had been awarded a penalty—and with goalkeeper David Cornell offering some “advice” as he walked past—Rashford’s composure shone through. He took his time, executed an extended stuttering run-up, and confidently converted the penalty.
“I feel like I’ve been getting fitter and playing better since I’ve been here,” Rashford said. “I missed a lot of football before joining them. My body feels good and I’m enjoying my football for now.”
