Marcus Rashford has done hardly anything wrong since coming on to replace Anthony Martial in a Europa League game against FC Midtjylland three months ago.
Since then, Rashford has scored with his first shot on goal in his Europa League debut, Premier League debut, first Manchester Derby and now on his International debut with a goal after 135 seconds in to his debut against Australia.
With that goal, Rashford became the third youngest player ever to score for England only behind Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen.
However, the Man United striker broke a 77-year old record by becoming the youngest ever player to score on his debut for England beating Tommy Lawton’s record set in 1938.
Roy Hodgson started with the 18-year old striker to see what he had to offer while playing for his country, the answer was as resounding as one could have hoped for. Rashford has now virtually sealed his spot at this summer’s Euro 2016 after yet another brilliant performance.
It seems like nothing fazed him getting his first senior cap and he kept playing as if it was an Under-21 game and all he had to do was make runs and sense other players’ movements.
And in doing so, he is setting new standards every single week which will be hard tor replicate for anyone else, even for Rashford himself. Just at the age of 18, he has become a dependable figure for both his club and country to score vital goals.
Last England player to do that was Michael Owen, who at the age of 18 became an International sensation. Owen scored for fun for both England and Liverpool, which saw him win the coveted Ballon d’Or award in 2001.
While Rashford is yet to full develop his European pedigree, he has become a household name in Premier League circuit in only three months’ time. Going forward, Rashford will need to keep improving and keep the critics and doubters away from his game.
Because of his early success, people would always be after his head if he fails to score for couple games in a row. However, his coaches and managers need to back him regardless of the outcome as he has proved himself to be an exceptional player who is not limited only to his goal scoring abilities.
His pace, trickery and awareness will create chances for his teammates as well and that is why numbers alone will not fully justify how Rashford progresses in coming seasons.
With Jose Mourinho’s arrival at Manchester United, Rashford will get the chance to work with one of the sharpest minds in world football right now which can only aid to his growth as a professional footballer.
As for England and Roy Hodgson, this boy deserves his place at the Euros and there isn’t anything which should come in the way of his selection for Euro 2016.
He has earned the right to represent his country at a major tournament and regardless of the number of minutes he plays, he must be part of the traveling squad to France .. Period.
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