In the goals: Marcus Rashford scored twice for Aston Villa in the FA Cup
Martin Rickett/PA Wire
Ruben Amorim insisted Marcus Rashford’s form for Aston Villa was “good news” for Manchester United, as he responded to the forward’s first goals for his new club.
Rashford scored twice in Villa’s FA Cup win over Preston on Sunday, leading Unai Emery’s side into the semi-finals and a place at Wembley next month.
Those were the 27-year-old’s first goals in a Villa shirt but he has already contributed four assists, more than he managed for United in the first half of the season.
Speaking after the match at Deepdale, Rashford said he was “playing better football” since joining Villa on loan, and Amorim was asked about the forward’s form at a press conference on Monday.
"We have a lot of games to play and I am focused on my team and my players and Rashford is not my player at the moment,” the United boss replied.
"But every player that performs well on loan is good news for my club so we are happy with that."
Villa are believed to have a £40m option to make Rashford’s move a permanent one in the summer, with his future at Old Trafford remaining in doubt.
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Rashford, who started both games for England in the recent international break, had been exiled from the first-team under Amorim, and pundit Micah Richards believes the forward is relishing playing for a manager with a “plan” that suits him.
“The difference is Emery has got a structure, he's got a plan,” Richards said.
“Under Ten Hag it was difficult and the new manager Amorim has found it difficult to put across exactly what he wants.
“If you're going to play a different formation, where is he gonna play? Is he going to play in one of the front three positions or maybe as a wing-back? It doesn't really suit him.”