Marcus Rashford's New Chapter at Manchester United

Harry Maguire believes the Marcus Rashford story at Manchester United is far from finished. In fact, he thinks it might be about to start a new chapter.

Rashford, 28 now, finally walked out for his first Premier League start for United in 21 months and responded with the kind of display Old Trafford has been demanding. In the 5-2 win over Ipswich, he was one of United’s sharpest attacking weapons, stretching the game, asking questions, looking like a player who still belongs on this stage.

Not long ago, that looked unlikely. His relationship with former manager Ruben Amorim broke down, he was shipped out on loan to Aston Villa and then Barcelona, and the feeling around the club was that the academy star was drifting away from his roots. Barcelona had a £26m option to buy. Had they triggered it, Rashford’s United career might already be over.

They didn’t. The window closes on Tuesday night and, this time, the clock is ticking in United’s favour. Rashford is staying put.

“He’s a great talent. He’s always a threat,” said Harry Maguire, who has lived his own version of the United backlash. “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.”

The words matter because of where they come from. Maguire has felt the weight of the shirt, the criticism, the doubts. Rashford has worn all of that too. The questions have been relentless: about his work-rate, his commitment, even whether he still enjoys football at all.

The loans changed the scenery and, crucially, the voices in his ear. Under Unai Emery at Villa and Hansi Flick at Barcelona, Rashford found different demands and a different rhythm. Those around him believe that spell away from Old Trafford has hardened him and sharpened him. Back in Manchester, he now works under Michael Carrick, a head coach who knows him as a person as much as a player.

“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’s own story runs parallel. Stripped of the captaincy, out of the team under Erik ten Hag, widely tipped to leave, he looked finished at Old Trafford. He stayed, fought back, and has forced his way into the picture again. That experience colours how he views Rashford’s return.

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

Carrick has gone as far as describing Rashford as “like a new signing”, a familiar phrase at United but one that feels more genuine when a player has actually been out of sight and out of mind for nearly two years of league football.

Carrick’s rebuilding job doesn’t stop with Rashford. Kobbie Mainoo, the young midfielder who was repeatedly overlooked by Amorim and then endured more frustration when England boss Thomas Tuchel took him to the World Cup but never used him, is another project in motion.

Mainoo started his first game of the season against Ipswich and, after United fell behind, slowly took control of his part of the pitch. The more the contest opened up, the more he grew.

“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.”

Between Rashford trying to reclaim his place at the heart of United’s attack and Mainoo being sculpted into the club’s next midfield cornerstone, Carrick finds himself with two careers at a crossroads in his dressing room.

The question now is simple: can United finally give them a team and a platform worthy of their talent, or will another “rough ride” define this era as well?