Cast your memories back to January of this year. Manchester United are facing Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round. Picture Marcus Rashford on the edge of the box, in an opportune position to pounce on a loose ball after a save from Emiliano Martinez.
But what does he do? He stops. Martinez gathers the ball with ease. Rashford hardly even makes any attempt to reach the ball, double United's advantage and all but kill the game off.
When he was substituted soon after, despite United leading and ultimately progressing, he wore a glum, downbeat expression. He was visibly in a tough patch throughout last season, but this was arguably the most striking day in terms of a display of his seeming loss of love for the game. His desire had diminished, his body language was poor, his smile had dissipated.
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As last season continued, critics remained rife and Rashford's enjoyment of football was seemingly in continual decline. His output dwindled in accordance, with five goals and two assists throughout the campaign marking a drastic downturn in efficiency. The season prior, even though he was riddled with injury issues that he continued to play through, Rashford had managed a career-high contribution rate with 21 goals and 15 assists.
The expectancy was that Rashford would return from the shoulder surgery that saw him miss the first 10 matches of last term and immediately be fit and firing. Encouragement was further drawn up as he scored on his return against Leicester City, but his return to action proved far from straightforward in the longer term. He largely fell out of favour at times, with his Premier League minutes ending up considerably below half of his total across the 2020/21 campaign.
But now, with the start of the Erik ten Hag era marking a fresh start, Rashford has renewed backing. A staunch supporter of players of his ilk, offering the ability to contribute to fast, incisive attacking moves, Ten Hag has already given Rashford six starts in the opening half-dozen games of the new season - his total amount of minutes thus far sees him almost halfway to his total last term.
And Rashford is now starting to repay the favour to Ten Hag after United's lamentable opening couple of games. There appears to be a restored level of confidence, which is leading the return of things such as Rashford driving at players - a key element of his game when he was performing at his highest level. His esteemed flair is beginning to rise to prominence again too, with showings of skill that he has been renowned for across his career to date.
While there are still instances of hesitance, there is a certain sense that an aspect of fearlessness is beginning to re-emerge after a period of lacking belief. In addition to his inclination to face up to opposing players, Rashford is showing that he isn't afraid to test goalkeepers either. His decision-making is starting to appear less clouded as well, meaning that his judgement of when to carry the ball, when to provide for team-mates and when to shoot is improving.
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Interestingly, with Cristiano Ronaldo less in favour and Anthony Martial struggling for fitness, Rashford has been deployed as the starting striker in each of United's last four matches. And, featuring both up front and then out wide later in matches, his contribution to four consecutive victories has been notable.
It is significant that, with big-game pedigree always a laudable aspect of Rashford's game when at his peak, he is starting to deliver against tough opposition again. A goal against Liverpool, then a brace as well as an assist against Arsenal - in addition to an assist against Leicester - offer proof that his threatening edge is returning.
When deployed as a striker recently, his contributions have come by way of his pair of assists, evidencing his value in link-up play within a fluid front line. Then, interestingly, all three of his goals so far this season have come after switching further towards the left flank after substitutions have been made, emphasising the increasingly important element of versatility within his game. Given the competition for attacking places, his form both centrally and in wide positions is useful for Ten Hag to have at his disposal.
Whether through his passing, general movement, run-making or shooting, it has been proven that Rashford is becoming sharper again. There was a noticeable pace advantage that put him a step ahead against both Liverpool and Arsenal's defences, while his dynamic movement has been a factor in creation of space and his location of threatening areas.
All three goals that he has scored have ultimately been courtesy of a clinical, more assured edge in front of goal following on from a dart in behind. His goal against Liverpool and first against Arsenal involved an exhibition of composure after runs from around the halfway line, with his second goal on Sunday afternoon coming after he was a stride ahead of Ben White in order to receive Christian Eriksen's square ball.
It is certainly refreshing to see his directness becoming a dangerous prospect again, with his trio of goals on the break reminiscent of his youthful days. He has a restored willingness to make a number of troubling attacking runs, with Bruno Fernandes' comments after United's victory against Arsenal a sign of how the improved camaraderie within the team is benefitting Rashford in this regard, giving him more freedom in many ways.
"I have told Marcus, 'I don't care if I miss 10 passes, focus on receiving the right pass, if the next one is right, I know you'll score, let the blame be on me'," Fernandes said.
No doubt, this will give Rashford confidence. It is an excellent display of leadership from Fernandes to shoulder responsibility for mishaps, in hand removing the burden from Rashford.
On the whole, it really seems as though the shackles are off for Rashford. Not only is he showing a commitment to making attacking runs, but he is also displaying a willingness to track back and defend, which often didn't seem the case last term. He definitely seems to be determined to offer a greater work rate, hassling opponents by pressing from the front as Ten Hag so desperately desires. When losing possession, he is now usually straight onto the opposition in order to try and win the ball back.
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Not long ago, there were rumours that Rashford could be looking for an exit route, with links to Paris Saint-Germain intensifying at one stage during the summer. But there is no doubting that Rashford is wholly committed to United still.
A new contract still has to be sorted, though it would seem that Rashford is on the right trajectory in terms of improving on his underperformances last term. He is looking back to full fitness for the first time in a while, with his mental state improving under a manager that is putting plenty of faith in him.
And, most importantly, the smile is returning.
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