Erik ten Hag praises Marcus Rashford's drive to reclaim top Man Utd form

Rashford has been linked with a summer move to Paris St Germain after a dramatic slump in form last season.

The England winger scored just eight goals in 43 appearances in all competitions having notched 30 in 2022-23, but has impressed Ten Hag during United's pre-season tour in the United States.

The Dutchman, whose side take on Manchester City at Wembley in the Community Shield on Saturday, said: "We've all seen on the tour he's very lively.

"He's in very good shape already and we expect a lot, as we expect from the whole team a lot this season.

"There are so many suggestions around Manchester United and around this team. So we know the truth and he's working very well, very hard, very engaged.

"And he's very ambitious and motivated to make it a very good season."

Rashford signed a new long-term contract last summer, keeping him at the club until 2028, but speculation mounted over his future after he was disciplined for a trip to a nightclub in Belfast in January.

He also chose to take a break from social media due to rising criticism, which he described as "abuse".

When asked if he could explain Rashford's drop in form, which cost him his place in England's Euro 2024 squad, Ten Hag said: "There are so many reasons, you can list them I think.

"There can be part individual reasons and definitely club, team and many reasons why a player is performing or not."

Ten Hag's squad was badly hit by injuries last season and fitness issues continue to hinder his bid for progress before this weekend's curtain-raiser.

United, who launch their Premier League campaign at home against Fulham next Friday, could be without four key defenders at Wembley with Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof and Aaron Wan-Bissaka all doubtful.

New signing Leny Yoro is out for three months after breaking a bone in his foot in last month's 2-1 friendly defeat to Arsenal in Los Angeles and striker Rasmus Hojlund will miss the first six weeks of the new season due to a hamstring injury sustained in the same match.

Ten Hag said the chance of another morale-boosting Wembley win over City, after their FA Cup success in May, would not come before the welfare of his players.

"We know already we can beat City and it's not dependent on the result on Saturday and it will not change that belief," he said.

"The FA Cup (final) was a higher occasion than the game on Saturday but nevertheless we want to win and show on more occasions we can beat City.

"So we have that belief but we don't want to take risks with players and lose players for a long period.

"That is what we have to take from last season when we were in a pattern, missing (players) with many injuries, injuries in the same unit of the team, that effects the results.

"We'll try to get results this season but the players have to be available."

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