Former Manchester United and England winger Lee Sharpe believes that Marcus Rashford’s form has dropped off alarmingly.
Sharpe was one of United’s most promising youngsters under Alex Ferguson but after a move to Leeds United, he embarked on a peripatetic and underwhelming career, which included a spell in Iceland.
Rashford burst onto the scene as a teenager under Louis van Gaal and has alternately been one of the club’s most important players and also cut a frustrated and out-of-form character.
There has been speculation in the past that his interest in social issues has cost him his potential on the pitch, along with arguments that different managers have let him down by not developing him.
After a successful first season under manager Erik ten Hag, he is again out of sorts, and Sharpe questioned if off-the-pitch matters are holding him back.
He told Fruity Slots: “Marcus Rashford doesn’t quite seem to have got up to pace this season.
“I don't know whether it's a confidence thing, whether he's got something going on off the pitch that's concerned him a little bit, but he doesn't seem as focused or direct in his football anymore.
“I don't know what's going on in his head, whether it's something off the pitch, whether he's thinking of the game too much… but this year he just seems to have dropped off the face of a cliff.
“He's one of the senior players now and he needs to set an example for everyone else. When the club is light on experienced first team players, he needs to be setting the standard. Against Wigan I just thought he could have played with a little bit more pace, directness and authority in himself. After four or five minutes he touched the ball three or four times, and not once had he sprinted at the full-back to attack the opposition.
“His first touch too – he stood someone up and tried to do a trick and the guy’s tackled him, it’s gone out of play for a throw in and he’s just turned around and strolled to get the ball.
“You’re in an FA Cup tie away at Wigan – the fans are going to be up, their team are going to be up for it. Manchester United need to impose themselves, they need to play quick, they need to play with some authority. To just walk towards the ball like that – I don't think ‘lazy’ is the right word… I don't know whether it was a bit of arrogance or whether he's lacking in confidence, but he just doesn't seem to be going past players anymore. He seems to be second guessing himself at times when he's squared up to players.”