JAMIE CARRAGHER has revealed how Marcus Rashford must develop in order to become a leader for Manchester United.
Rashford, 26, is an Old Trafford stalwart having made 387 appearances for his boyhood club.
But he has twice disappointed boss Erik ten Hag with disciplinary issues this season.
Earlier in the campaign he went to Manchester’s Chinawhite nightclub to celebrate his birthday just hours after losing 3-0 to City – with Ten Hag later calling it “unacceptable”.
Rashford was then fined £650,000 and dropped for the 4-2 FA Cup win at Newport last month after claiming he was too ill to train following a night out in Belfast.
Ten Hag, 54, has since said that Rashford has “taken responsibility” and that the matter is now “closed”.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
Discussing Rashford on the latest Stick to Football podcast in association with SkyBet, Gary Neville compared his attitude to that of Roy Keane.
The 48-year-old said: “Roy Keane only started to assume the mantle of being the dominant inspirational character at the age of 26 at Manchester United, but Marcus Rashford is nothing like Roy Keane in personality or character.”
Carragher, 46, then claimed that there are alternative ways that Rashford can develop as a leader – and pointed to Liverpool stars past and present.
He said: “Marcus Rashford doesn’t need to be like Roy Keane, he must lead and show character in a different way.
Most read in Football
HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
“Someone like Steven Gerrard, who was a completely different player to Marcus Rashford.
“Someone like me who would be shouting and screaming at people, at the referee and other players, and Stevie showed leadership through his whole ability and the respect he had from the other players.
“I’m not saying Rashford needs to go around shouting at everyone, but his body language needs to change and be the person, you want him to be when someone becomes a leader.
“I feel like when I’m watching Trent Alexander-Arnold this season, even though his numbers might be the same, it’s his body language and his change in demeanour on the pitch which has changed as he’s getting older.”
Since missing the Newport clash, Rashford has been in action against Wolves and West Ham – scoring against the former and helping United to wins in both games.
Rashford has recently been working at a jigsaw while spending nights in.
A source said: “It’s an unusual choice for a top-flight footballer in his 20s, but the last thing he needs is to return to his partying.
“He’s making an effort to stay in and behave himself.
“Let’s hope he sticks with it.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
