REUTERS/Phil Noble
Perhaps it speaks more to the woes of those around him, or the lack of true investment in the forward line, yet it's fair to say that Marcus Rashford is arguably looking like Manchester United's biggest attacking threat at present.
Yes, Bryan Mbeumo has scored two in two, although the Cameroonian hasn't truly got up to speed as yet, with United looking most potent down Rashford's left flank.
Brought in from the cold by Michael Carrick, the 28-year-old is in confident mood again, reinvigorated following a successful season out on loan at Barcelona.
FC Barcelona's Marcus Rashford reacts
He's looking like a cliched 'new signing' on current evidence, with Carrick boasting that magic touch when it comes to reviving the careers of struggling United stars.
How Rashford has turned his Man Utd career around
No one is getting too carried away, considering the new season is only three games old, but the form of Rashford has been a real bright spark amid this mixed run of results.
REUTERS/Phil Noble
From his second-half cameo against Hull City, there have been flashes of the 'Rashy' of old since then, the Englishman somehow denied an assist against Ipswich Town as the aforementioned Mbeumo struck the crossbar from point-blank range.
The previously exiled winger should have perhaps had an assist away at Everton too, embarking on a stunning solo run into the area before picking out Matheus Cunha with a deft backheel, only for the Brazilian to be denied by a sliding James Tarkowski.
Prior to being replaced due to a potential injury issue, Rashford had been such a handful on Merseyside, bursting past makeshift right-back Merlin Rohl at will.
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26/27 - Most Succ. Dribbles Per 90
Player
Tel
Marmoush
Okafor
Neto
Rashford
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George
Yalcouye
Cherki
Ouattara
It's no surprise that he currently ranks fifth in the division in terms of successful dribbles completed per 90 (2.8), as well as ranking fourth for chances created too (eight).
Perhaps the biggest signifier of his turnaround is the Mancunian's work out of possession too, notably winning six of his nine duels at the weekend, while having not been dribbled past at all all game.
Under the tutelage of a man whom he previously played with, Rashford looks fit and firing again, happy to chip in and do the basics defensively.
He's already looking like one of United's key men again, and he isn't alone in that regard.
Man Utd star is enjoying a bigger revival than Rashford
Carrick, like any Manchester United manager of the past, will find himself under the microscope if results don't improve, with a tally of four points from three supposedly winnable games not exactly marking the best start to the campaign.
Where will Man Utd finish this season?
In his defence, the Englishman is having to make do with what he's got, with key positions like full-back, centre-back and centre-forward having not been strengthened this summer.
Rather than throwing his toys out the pram, as many in his situation would have done, Carrick has cracked on with the job at hand, notably helping to turn Rashford into a fearsome force again.
Action Images via Reuters / John Sibley
Indeed, his man-management and coaching ability has also been seen in the ongoing improvement of Kobbie Mainoo, the 21-year-old looking like a class above in that midfield role.
So underused and underutilised by Ruben Amorim, Mainoo was staring down the barrel of an Old Trafford exit heading into January, amid talk of a potential loan switch to the likes of Napoli.
By April, he'd signed a new contract after starting almost every game under new man Carrick, subsequently doing enough to force his way back into the England reckoning.
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Speaking at the time, Manchester Evening News journalist Tyrone Marshall even suggested that the youngster can become a "£100m player", a point that looks even more prescient considering the fees dished out of late.
It was, of course, another low point over the summer for Mainoo as he failed to earn a single minute of action at the World Cup, yet once more, he's come back with a point to prove in a United shirt.
REUTERS/Jon Super
United's midfield was all at sea on the opening weekend against Hull City, yet Mainoo arguably ran the show against Ipswich, memorably supplying the pass that led to Cunha earning a penalty in the second half.
He also notched an assist for Mbeumo against the Toffees, one of two key passes he provided on the day, having enjoyed a 96% pass accuracy rate, while winning five of his eight attempted duels.
It was perhaps no coincidence too that the away side began to be overrun late on following Mainoo's withdrawal, with Hayden Hackney and co beginning to find joy up against Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans.
There is still Carlos Baleba to come into the equation, yet at present, Mainoo looks like the most important of that midfield bunch, a far cry from having been forced to take on an unorthodox centre-forward role under Amorim.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim and Kobbie Mainoo look dejected after the match
Ever since his return to the starting fold in the Manchester derby back in January, the Stockport-born sensation has reminded everyone of just what a talent he is, emerging as even more central to the fate of this team than even that man Rashford.
With Manchester City again on the agenda this weekend, the potential battle with Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez could really test whether Mainoo truly is a '£100m player'.
On current evidence, he certainly looks like it.