ERIK TEN HAG has warned Marcus Rashford he needs to rediscover his killer instinct — and fast.
The Manchester United striker is just two short of a century of club goals.
He hit five in ten games this season including doubles against Arsenal in a 3-1 win and away to Omonia Nicosia as United scrambled a 3-2 victory.
But as Ten Hag’s side struggled to a last-gasp 1-0 Europa League home success over the Cypriot side, Rashford missed TEN of 34 scoring opportunities created.
And while Ten Hag indicated he is still likely to start him in tomorrow’s clash with Newcastle, the Dutchman also made it clear his patience is already wearing thin.
Talking about Rashford’s performance against Neil Lennon’s minnows, the Old Trafford manager said: “He did a lot of things well.
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“But he knows that he has to be more clinical and he had to score a goal.
“When you have such good movements and make such good combinations, good actions, then you have to finish.
“I know sometimes it’s the game, it’s not your night and it’s about the form of the day but it can change in another game.
“He’s in a really good run, that shows in the chances he creates.
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“Now it’s two games he has been a little unlucky.
“Last Sunday [at Everton] he deserved a goal but they cancelled it, this time he didn’t score. I say save it for the coming week.”
Anthony Martial could be fit for the Toon’s visit after missing the Omonia clash with a hip problem, while Cristiano Ronaldo in is line to start only his second Premier League game of the season.
As a further reminder to Rashford that his place is under threat, Ten Hag says he has others in his squad who can be 20-goals-a-season men.
He added: “Yes, I’m confident, mostly, there are players who will score.
“They come into the position and in the last part, it’s also about the freedom from the player, the intuition, the space they have to take.
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“When they have that feeling then you will see that when they have the talent, when they have the potential, they will score that number of goals.
“We have, in our squad, players who can score that number of goals.
“But you can also divide it, because we have many goalscorers across the offensive department.”
Ronaldo, 37, provided clear evidence that he is now willing to get with the programme and tomorrow will indicate whether Ten Hag believes him or not.
The 700-goal superstar yesterday suggested the mood music around him is far more tuneful than since Ten Hag took over three months ago.
He posted on Twitter: “We believe until the end,” alongside United’s colours of red, white and black and a picture of Thursday night’s starting line-up.
CRIS AND MAKE UP
Should Ronaldo get the vote to face Newcastle, then he will have the chance to see out his final season as a United player considered by his no-nonsense boss as a crucial component.
But if Martial, to whom Ten Hag has been paying warm compliments, goes straight back in, then Ronaldo will know that he is likely to be playing out time before his second and final departure.
In the build-up to the Omonia clash, Ten Hag appeared to suggest that the atmosphere between him and Ronaldo was improving.
Ten Hag had seethed over Ronaldo’s posturing as he missed pre-season training.
Now he is engaging with him again, while as he showed against Omonia — and when he appeared at Goodison Park to score his 700th club goal — Ronaldo is doing the hard pressing yards he was not before.
Now, if not exactly in from the cold, the fridge door has been opened for him.
The way Antony has responded to Ronaldo since his £85.5million arrival from Ajax will also be tempting Ten Hag to perhaps give him one last hurrah.
The veteran’s presence was supposed to have become an intimidating factor among younger team-mates.
But the Brazilian winger, 22, said: “Since I arrived here, Cristiano Ronaldo has really helped me feel at ease.
“He always tells me to be calm and confident, he’s achieved so much in football and I learn from him every day.
“I’m really grateful to have such an experienced person teaching us young players every day.”
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Harry Maguire misses his fifth successive game having damaged a thigh.
But Ten Hag is hoping he will be available by Wednesday when Tottenham head to Old Trafford.
- MANCHESTER UNITED (likely): De Gea, Dalot, Lindelof, Martinez, Shaw, Eriksen, Casimiro, Antony, Fernandes, Rashford, Ronaldo.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
