Michael Owen claims 'glum-faced' Marcus Rashford could be Man United's 'weak link' following 1-1 draw at Fulham

Former Manchester United and England striker Michael Owen has called Marcus Rashford the 'weak link' in the Red Devils' forward line, following a difficult return to life at Old Trafford.

Rashford has started four of United's five Premier League matches since returning to the club, following loan spells at Aston Villa and Barcelona, including their 1-1 draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday.

The winger has shown flashes of brilliance at times early this season, but is yet to register a single goal or assist in over 400 minutes of football in all competitions.

The 28-year-old was substituted during the second half in west London due to a hip issue, which has seen him pull out of the upcoming England squad, and Owen has voiced his concern about the output and mentality of the England international.

‘On the left, Marcus Rashford has been probably the quietest of those attackers,’ Owen said on Premier League Productions. ‘He was quiet again today in his body language, just the glum face. He just doesn’t seem to be loving his football which has been a permanent frustration with Marcus.

‘It does look like the weight of the world is on his shoulders and you just think how? Why? He’s living everybody’s dream. Surely there’s something behind the scenes that is making him look as if he’s not enjoying his football at the moment.’

Marcus Rashford is yet to register a goal or assist since his return to Manchester United

Rashford notched up 25 goal contributions during his impressive but short stint at Barcelona, with 14 of those goals. But the confidence he gained during his campaign in Catalonia seems to be wilting away already.

Owen added: ‘Last chance saloon was Barcelona. I couldn’t believe his luck in getting a team like Barcelona.

‘He does reasonably well out there, but not well enough for them to keep him and then they end up spending fortunes to replace him by buying Anthony Gordon. So, it wasn’t all perfect. It wasn’t all rosy despite any spin that people put on it.

‘And then he comes back to Manchester United. He’s done okay, but only okay. And he needs to probably do a little bit better in that front three because his is the position in the attack that would be vulnerable.

‘There’s a bit of a demand for Benjamin Sesko to come back in and start, injury permitting of course. But if that happens, Cunha is going to go on the left and Rashford would be the weak link in that attack as things stand.’

Despite Owen being disappointed with Rashford’s start to the season, he still has faith in the forward coming good again at United, if he can get in the right mental space.

Rashford picked up a hip issue against Fulham which has seen him pull out of the upcoming England squad

‘There is nothing that that lad hasn’t got,’ Owen continued. ‘He is so tall, such a great athlete. His touch and his skill levels are unbelievable. He’s quick.

‘He’s got everything that you would want in a player, and it just shows you if you haven’t got that [mentality], that is the most important thing in football. Not even a question. If you’re mentally strong, then you can go far in the game and he has got absolutely everything.

‘When he’s confident, when he’s happy and everything then he can be a world beater. But it’s not often he’s got that between his ears ticking. It’s not often that he’s in the right frame of mind.

‘He’s 28 now, he should be in his prime. He should be absolutely tearing defences apart, scoring loads of goals. We’re talking about what records he can break. He has got that ability to do it, and he’s shown it in patches, but just not seeing it on a consistent basis.’

Rashford’s return date from the hip injury he sustained at Craven Cottage is unknown; however, he will miss England’s upcoming Nations League fixtures against Spain, Czechia and Croatia, which will take place over the next three weeks.