Manchester United allowed Marcus Rashford to leave the club on loan to join Aston Villa during the January transfer window. The England international has regained some form under Unai Emery, which earned him a recall to the England squad earlier this month.
While Rashford has been impressive in a Villa shirt, he hadn’t scored until Sunday’s FA Cup match against Preston North End. The 27-year-old found the net twice, helping his team secure a 3-0 victory and advance to the FA Cup semi-finals.
Marcus Rashford scored his first goal in the 58th minute at Aston Villa, sliding the ball into the corner of the net after a clever cutback. Just five minutes later, he scored his second goal from the penalty spot after Morgan Rogers earned a foul inside the box, once again directing the ball into the corner.
The Wythenshawe-born forward received a standing ovation from Villa fans as he left the pitch, which suggests he has regained his confidence after a difficult start to the season at Manchester United. However, with United struggling for attacking options, some fans have suggested that Rashford should be recalled.
Unfortunately, this is not possible. United would have needed to include a recall option in the agreement with Aston Villa in order to bring Marcus Rashford back early. If no recall option exists, he will remain at Villa Park until at least the end of the season. There is also the question of whether United’s head coach, Ruben Amorim, would want him back.
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Before leaving, Rashford slipped down the pecking order at Old Trafford and faced sidelining due to concerns over his attitude in training and his fit within the system. Villa reportedly holds a buy option in their agreement with United, enabling them to purchase Rashford for a set price, believed to be £40 million, this summer.
This implies that Amorim may prefer to give opportunities to youth players in the United squad before considering a return for Marcus Rashford, especially if Aston Villa decides not to exercise their purchase option at the end of the season. Although a return to United seems unlikely, Rashford undoubtedly hopes to maintain his form as Villa prepares for a busy schedule ahead.
Emery’s squad could face up to 16 more matches before the end of the season, depending on their success in the FA Cup and Champions League.