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Marcus Rashford must do more and do it now, according to NBC Sports pundit Robbie Mustoe.
Ahead of their vital derby against Liverpool at Old Trafford, the former Middlesbrough man called on Rashford to step up after being named in the starting XI.
‘Ten Hag has got to rattle the cage of the whole squad. Some of these players, it’s got to be their last chance.
Marcus Rashford has been subject to interest from French side Paris Saint-Germain recently
Robbie Mustoe believes Rashford has reached his final chance to impress in a United shirt
‘Marcus Rashford… show us! When things are going well for him, he looks a million bucks, but there’s too many times when he doesn’t, and he’s jogging back to help his defender.’
Rashford hasn’t scored for Manchester United since January 22, 2021 as the Red Devils won 1-0 at home to West Ham.
According to former USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard, the former England international should look to pastures abroad.
‘[If I’m Rashford], I want to go,’ he said. ‘With PSG, it’s a new start. There comes a point in time where he’s got to make the No. 9 his, he’s got to say, “I want to be the No. 9” and back it up with production.’
Tim Howard has called on Rashford to depart his hometown club for the Ligue 1 champions
Mustoe doubled down on his earlier claims that Rashford really is in last chance saloon territory.
‘This is it for Rashford. And I don’t think he is a No. 9, I think he’s better from the left. Let’s see, if he does play up front, how he does.
‘I remember Arsene Wenger saying that by the age of 23, you know what you’re going to get with a player. He’s going to get some experience, and knowledge… but tactically, technically, you’ve got it.’
With a baying Liverpool on the horizon, United manager Erik ten Hag made several changes including dropping Harry Maguire and Cristiano Ronaldo for the crunch clash.
Cristiano Ronaldo and captain Harry Maguire have been left out of United’s starting XI
‘He’s made a big call,’ NBC’s Lee Dixon said on their coverage of Manchester United vs. Liverpool.
‘He had to do something big in order to shake the dressing room up. We can talk all day about what’s going on off the pitch with the Glazers, and protests, but we’re dealing with what’s on the pitch.
‘I think Liverpool will look at that team-sheet, and Klopp in particular, and say, “They’ve made changes, and he’s expecting a reaction.”‘
United’s players were put through their places following an embarrassing loss to Brentford
‘It’s about character, and we haven’t seen it this season. It’s still looking for some character, that’s all it is. Big players don’t [find excuses].’
Mustoe believes the Dutchman was right to mix up his starting XI in the aftermath of their humiliating defeat at Brentford.
‘[Ten Hag’s] words must have stung the whole club, and the players, when he said the last two performances have lacked spirit and fight and attitude.
Erik ten Hag also left out Luke Shaw and Fred out of the starting lineup vs. old foe Liverpool
My goodness, isn’t that the basics? I think it’s going to be a quicker frontline, more energy, a high press. Harry Maguire isn’t the quickest player, so there’s more speed there.
‘They had to do something… something to start the foundations, to have hope, that this guy can slowly fix some of the problems.’
Fellow analyst and former USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard believes the efficacy of United’s changes will be apparent within moments of the two sides taking the pitch.
Manchester United vs. Liverpool is one of the fiercest rivalries in the Premier League & beyond
‘This is not going to take very long to see if these decisions have worked,’ he said. ‘Liverpool will be an expecting a reaction… I wonder if we’re going to get it?
‘Dropping your captain is a big call, some other players absolutely have to step up. When they went down to Brentford, there was no reaction.
‘First 10, 15, 20 minutes, football’s easy then… it’s a new game, it’s a new week. If Liverpool go up a gear, do they down tools?’