Harry Maguire Praises Marcus Rashford's Potential at Manchester United

Harry Maguire says Marcus Rashford is ready to make a major mark on Manchester United’s season – and insists the forward’s difficult years at Old Trafford should not erase what he has already done for the club.

Rashford made his first Premier League start for United in 21 months in the chaotic 5-2 win over Ipswich at Old Trafford, and looked like a man trying to reclaim his stage. Sharp, direct, constantly on the move, he was one of United’s main attacking threats in a game that felt like a personal reset.

Not long ago, his United future looked finished. A fall-out with former manager Ruben Amorim pushed him out on loan first to Aston Villa, then to Barcelona, where he would have stayed had the Catalan club triggered a £26m option to buy. They didn’t. The transfer window closes on Tuesday night and, barring a late twist, Rashford will stay at his boyhood club.

Maguire is more than happy about that.

“He's a great talent,” the defender said. “He's always a threat.

“If Marcus wants to be here, wants to work, wants to improve and help the team, of course we're willing to have him in the team.

“He could still do a lot more and I think he'll say he can do more but if we keep him fit, we keep him happy, he keeps driven and hungry, he's a great asset to have.”

Rashford has lived under a cloud of criticism for some time, stretching back to Erik ten Hag’s tenure. His work-rate has been questioned, his commitment doubted, even his enjoyment of the game picked apart. Every off-day has been amplified, every dip in form treated like a crisis.

Time away from Old Trafford changed the picture. Under Unai Emery at Aston Villa and Hansi Flick at Barcelona, Rashford found different voices and different demands. Those who work with him believe he returned more rounded, more focused. The presence of Michael Carrick – a coach who knows him well and understands the weight of playing for United – is seen as crucial.

“You've got to remember Marcus has had a wonderful career for this club,” Maguire said.

“But when you play at this club for numerous years, there's going to be bad seasons, and when the bad seasons come everyone piles on you. That's part and parcel of playing for this club.

“As a club, we haven't been perfect from top to bottom. We haven't been challenging at the top end. So, Marcus has been part of a rough ride for Manchester United.

“When that happens, players get dug out. I've been through it.”

Maguire knows the terrain. He lost his place and the captaincy under Ten Hag and looked certain to leave at one stage. He stayed, rebuilt, and now speaks with the authority of someone who has worn the scars.

“He's come back in, really fit and sharp and we're excited to have him,” he added.

Carrick has described Rashford as feeling like a new signing, a dangerous weapon rediscovered rather than acquired. The United head coach has already shown his touch with players who have been marginalised or bruised by previous regimes. Kobbie Mainoo is the clearest example.

Overlooked repeatedly by Amorim, the midfielder was revived by Carrick last season. Now the cycle has turned again. Mainoo went to the World Cup but did not play a minute under England boss Thomas Tuchel, a blow that could easily have lingered.

Instead, he started his first game of the season against Ipswich. After United fell behind, he grew into the contest, tightening his grip on midfield as the minutes passed.

“I thought he was brilliant,” Maguire said.

“To say he hasn't had many minutes in pre-season, he was magnificent.

“His work without the ball has improved so much since Michael's been in. He's becoming a real monster in there, wins a lot of second balls and a lot of duels.

“The thing is he's so young. If we want him to play for this club for another 10 years, there's going to be times where he's going to go through a patch like I spoke about with Rashy and myself.

“But that's part and parcel. He's really level-headed, really composed and has great belief in his ability.

“He's going to be a magnificent player for this club for many years.”

United’s dressing room has heard enough promises and rebuild slogans over recent seasons. What it needs now are players who respond when careers hit turbulence.

In Rashford and Mainoo, Carrick has two who have already taken a hit and come back swinging. The question is no longer whether they belong at Old Trafford.

It’s how far they can drag the club back with them.