- Marcus Rashford has recorded zero shots in his first two games of the season
- The Manchester United striker was caught offside twice against Brighton on Saturday
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Premier League icon Alan Shearer has criticised Marcus Rashford for his poor positioning and movement during Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat at Brighton on Saturday.
Rashford played for 64 minutes at the AMEX Stadium and failed to register a single shot.
A similar story occurred in United’s first league game of the season, when Rashford failed to get a shot off against Fulham, despite playing the full 90 minutes.
According The sunRashford has been having extra sessions with club legend Ruud van Nistelrooy, who joined the United coaching staff in July.
Van Nistelrooy, who scored 150 goals for United in 219 games between 2001 and 2006, has apparently focused on trying to improve Rashford’s awareness of the far post and his runs into the box.
Marcus Rashford has had a disappointing start to his 2024-25 campaign with Manchester United
Rashford started for the Red Devils in their Premier League game away to Brighton on Saturday.
He was substituted by coach Erik ten Hag in the 64th minute after failing to get off a shot.
But Shearer highlighted another area that seemingly needs significant improvement in Rashford’s game.
Analysing Saturday’s action on the BBC Match of the dayShearer criticised Rashford for being caught offside twice against Brighton.
Former Newcastle and Blackburn striker Shearer began a brief tirade by pointing out that United scored just 57 Premier League goals last season, fewer than any other team in the top half.
He continued: ‘Ruud van Nistelrooy has been brought in there and he will have to work his magic somehow.
“I know they have (Rasmus) Hojlund injured but when he comes back he will have to improve that because from what we saw today and in the game against Fulham, he has not been good enough.”
Gary Lineker, who, like Shearer, is a former England striker and captain, attempted to defend Rashford for his multiple offside infringements.
“The only thing I would say in Rashford’s defence is that he is at least trying to make runs,” Lineker added.
However, Shearer hit back: “Yes, but he’s not a youngster any more. He has to understand the position and look across the pitch when he can see everything, then he shouldn’t be offside.”
Former United player Ruud van Nistelrooy watched Saturday’s game from the United dugout
Rashford and van Nistelrooy have reportedly been working together a lot on the training ground.
Alan Shearer criticised Rashford during his analysis on Saturday’s Match of the Day
Shearer scored 260 Premier League goals in 441 games between 1992 and 2006. The 54-year-old remains the competition’s all-time leading scorer.
Rashford, meanwhile, has scored 83 goals in 274 top-flight appearances for United.
Rashford has twice scored as many as 17 goals in a Premier League season: in 2019-20 and again in 2022-23.
But last season he only scored seven goals in 33 league games.
United’s next game is at home to Liverpool on September 1.
