Liverpool manager Arne Slot has expressed confidence that Marcus Rashford will prove his quality during his loan spell at Aston Villa, following his fall from favor at Manchester United.
Rashford has yet to start a game for Villa, having been sidelined for nearly two months before his late January transfer. However, he has made a positive impact in two substitute appearances so far.
In his most recent outing, he was introduced at halftime in Villa’s 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town on Saturday. As he regains match fitness, he is expected to secure a starting role.
Villa’s next challenge is a midweek clash against Slot’s Liverpool, the Premier League leaders. In the buildup to the match, Rashford has drawn attention.
Slot had only praise for the 27-year-old, recalling their first encounter during Liverpool’s preseason tour in the USA last summer, when they faced Manchester United in front of nearly 80,000 fans in South Carolina.
“I was really impressed. He’s a very good player. I hope he proves it at Villa—just not tomorrow,” Slot remarked. “I would be completely surprised if a player of his caliber doesn’t show his ability in the coming months. In my opinion, he’s a top talent.”
Rashford has struggled for consistent form over the past 18 months, following a standout 2022/23 season where he scored 30 goals. His situation worsened under new United head coach Ruben Amorim, who took charge in November.
Although Rashford initially showed promise, he was unexpectedly dropped for the Manchester derby in mid-December. Soon after, he publicly expressed his desire for a “new challenge.” Amorim later suggested the forward wasn’t performing well enough in training to justify selection.
As part of his loan agreement, Villa holds a £40m option to make the move permanent. Rashford stated that Villa’s ambition was a key reason behind his decision to join the club.
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