Marcus Rashford celebrates with his Aston Villa teammates during the victory over Preston North End in the FA Cup
Marcus Rashford celebrates with his Aston Villa teammates during the victory over Preston North End in the FA Cup
Some may feel that Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim will have egg on his face after deciding to allow Marcus Rashford to leave the club in the January transfer window.
The relationship between the Portuguese head coach and Englishman had become untenable with a difference of opinion regarding the latter's training performances creating a rift. When it became clear that Barcelona were not going to come in for him, Rashford quickly agreed a loan spell to Aston Villa.
In the West Midlands, Rashford has managed to return to the Champions League and play a big part in Villa's push to the semi-finals of the FA Cup. Before Sunday's trip to Preston North End, the winger had grabbed four assists but not scored a single goal.
That would change this weekend though as he bagged a brace and a Man of the Match award as Villa won 3-0. However, his goals only tell half the story.
Preston are, with all due respect, not the biggest challenge Rashford will face this season. The Championship side had eight players out injured and are languishing in mid-table this campaign.
Goals still need scoring and it will be a confidence boost for Rashford but United and Amorim will not automatically start panicking that they have lost the answer to their problems.
The truth is, Rashford and United just was not working any more and they haven't worked properly together for the last two seasons.
Both parties needed a change and the one that Rashford has taken is working well for him but will also work well with United. If he continues to score, even if it is against lesser opposition, it will only encourage other teams to buy him should Villa not be able to afford him in the summer.
The likes of Barcelona need to see that Rashford is turning a corner if they are to splash the cash at the end of the season so this is all playing into United's hands.
It was time for a fresh start for both and the Reds will not be worried now that things are going well for their academy product.
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