Ex-Manchester United frontman Dwight Yorke would like to see Red Devils forward Marcus Rashford given a run of games as a central striker.
Rashford burst onto the scene as a centre-forward in 2015-16 but has often been used on the left wing since then, rarely being afforded an extended period of time up front.
However, he was deployed in that role as United picked up their first win of the season – beating Liverpool 2-1 at Old Trafford on Monday night, with Rashford scoring the crucial second goal.
Yorke feels the strike will do wonders for Rashford’s confidence and has suggested that the 24-year-old needs to regularly play more centrally, to develop in that position.
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Rashford Praise
Speaking exclusively to Lord Ping, he said: “I'm a huge fan of Rashford. I'm delighted he got his goal and I think that will give him a huge confidence boost.
“I think he's found things tough over the last couple of seasons. He's been playing in so many different positions; he's played left, right and down the middle.
“When you get to 24, you need to identify a specific position – that's the only way you become really good at it.
“If you look at the great goalscorers, [Harry] Kane, [Alan] Shearer, they were all No9s at Rashford’s age.
“I would like to see him given a run up there. Centre-forward is the most difficult position and you only improve with games.
“You have to be cunning and clever to play in that position. I'm delighted for him.”
Blueprint Discovered?
Yorke also thinks the approach Erik ten Hag utilised in the victory over Liverpool should be the blueprint for United moving forward – capitalising on their ability to attack teams at pace.
“Rashford, [Anthony] Elanga and [Jadon] Sancho brought energy and were direct,” he added.
“To beat Liverpool, United needed to run at them and for the first time in a long time we saw a United team turn the Liverpool defence.
“What we have seen in this game, when we've got young legs prepared to run in behind, United can hurt any team.
“When the game was stretched, United came into their own and I thought they did particularly well.
“This is now the standard that is a minimum in terms of effort required to play for Manchester United. That is the minimum we need to see going forward.
“In terms of lacklustre United performances in previous years against Liverpool, this was an improvement.
“To beat Liverpool, [Ten Hag] needed to inject some energy into the team and trust his young players.”
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