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Jesse Lingard is a shining example of why Marcus Rashford should stay put at Manchester United

By Ollie Slack

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Marcus Rashford has had more rumours spread about him in this last month than he probably ever had at school. Will he stay or will he go? Jesse Lingard is proof that he should definitely stay put.

Marcus Rashford is the type of kid who wants to play every minute of every match. He wants to be part of every attack, every goal. Therefore, he’s going to be frustrated with the lack of minutes this season. Despite playing in 47 matches, Rashford has totalled up 2,367 minutes averaging just 50 minutes a match.
Marcus Rashford is the type of kid who wants to play every minute of every match. He wants to be part of every attack, every goal. Therefore, he’s going to be frustrated with the lack of minutes this season. Despite playing in 47 matches, Rashford has totalled up 2,367 minutes averaging just 50 minutes a match. /

However, we have to remember, as Marcus quite humbly wrote in a tweet the other day, he is only 20 years of age. You can’t remember too many Manchester United players of years gone by that have reached the world recognition he has at his age. Also, he has only just played two years of senior professional football.

In those two years since he made his debut in February 2016, Rashford has won: the Europa League, the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Community Shield and played at a European Championships for England.

Comparison with Rooney and Ronaldo

Looking at the statistics, Marcus Rashford is matching both Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo in some aspects of their first two years at the club.

Rooney (91) and Ronaldo (90) were shy of their 100th Manchester United appearance when they reached their two-year anniversary at the club. Whereas Rashford has played an incredible 109 games so far.

Rooney scored 36 goals in his first two seasons at Old Trafford whilst Ronaldo didn’t settle quite as quickly. The Portuguese winger scored 15 goals. In the two years since Rashford’s debut (25th February 2016 – 25th February 2018), the Wythenshawe-born lad had netted 29 goals for United.

Ronaldo had registered the most assists out of the three with 19. Both Rooney and Rashford had notched 16 each.
Ronaldo had registered the most assists out of the three with 19. Both Rooney and Rashford had notched 16 each. /

It was after their first two years at the club where these two, now club legends, stepped up another level. To a level where they were being talked about on a world stage.

Rashford already has that pressure now, due to his meteoric rise and the powers of social media in modern football. He is globally recognised without hitting his peak. Therefore, there is an expectation of what he should go on to achieve.

Marcus is at the same age as Ronaldo (20) and Rooney (21) were going into their third season. Ronaldo went on to score 103 goals in his next four seasons at Manchester United and Rooney scored into the high teens and sometimes twenties consistently throughout his United career. If Rashford wants to be regarded as one of the world’s bests he needs to be given the opportunities to replicate this and take them.

Although, Jesse Lingard has proven you don’t need to hit the ground running straight away to succeed at Manchester United.

Jesse Lingard is a role model to Rashford in more ways than one

It’s fair to say Jesse Lingard waited patiently for his opportunity at his boyhood club. Before becoming a first team regular over the last couple of seasons, Lingard spent time out on loan at four different clubs.

Lingard spent various length loan spells at Leicester City, Brighton and Birmingham. He was never considered a first team player until Louis Van Gaal showed some faith in him. Making his debut in August 2014. He was sent out on loan again in January, to Derby, before scoring his first goal for the club in November 2015. Since then, the Warrington-born lad has been a regular.
Lingard spent various length loan spells at Leicester City, Brighton and Birmingham. He was never considered a first team player until Louis Van Gaal showed some faith in him. Making his debut in August 2014. He was sent out on loan again in January, to Derby, before scoring his first goal for the club in November 2015. Since then, the Warrington-born lad has been a regular. /

This is one of the reasons people assume Lingard is still a young player. But in fact, it’s his lack of experience. He made his debut at 23 and like Sir Alex Ferguson predicted, he didn’t reach his peak until 25.

Jesse Lingard has always been a role model for Marcus Rashford. When Rashford first burst onto the scene, Lingard took him under his wing. But perhaps it’s fate how the perfect person to guide Rashford through this period is Lingard. In a time where Rashford needs to look up to Lingard as a shining example. Lingard is an example of what to do when the breaks are being applied to your career at the club you love.

For Marcus Rashford, patience is the key

Going out on loan may not be a bad move for Rashford. So he can get back to the form he showed at the end of 2015/16. No fear and playing with a big smile on his face. But, I wouldn’t be rushing to leave Old Trafford anytime soon.

Pundits talk about how he NEEDS to play football. They are basing that on the explosive start he made to his career. But again, he’s only 20 and there is still plenty of time for him to develop as a player and a person. If he has a successful summer with England, Rashford could start next season like a bomb.
Pundits talk about how he NEEDS to play football. They are basing that on the explosive start he made to his career. But again, he’s only 20 and there is still plenty of time for him to develop as a player and a person. If he has a successful summer with England, Rashford could start next season like a bomb. /

In football, things can change in a single moment and have unimaginable consequences. A confidence booster, some good family news, a goal. It doesn’t take a lot to change someone’s headspace and suddenly you can be a different animal. Especially when someone has shown they have the natural talent Rashford has. And Jesse Lingard is the perfect example of how circumstances can change so quickly.

Manchester United is the right place to be too

At Manchester United, one thing is for sure. There is no better football club for a young player to be nurtured and developed. The club has done it on countless occasions in the past. Manchester United have included a homegrown player in every first-team squad for over 80 years. Something which can not be said for other clubs who live in the present and discard any potential that isn’t quickly turning into ability.

Amongst this crazy world we now live in where everything is travelling at 100 miles per hour, it’s easy to forget to take a back seat and view the bigger picture sometimes. Marcus Rashford’s form has gone through peaks and troughs. Bar the obvious, name me a player in world football who that has never happened to.

Next: Paul Pogba kept it simple and was brilliant because of it

Rashford was nominated for the ‘PFA Young Player Of The Year’ award this season. He has finished runner-up in the Golden Boy Award for two consecutive seasons. He has won trophies in four different competitions at club level. And he’s a regular in the England national team. From that little lad at Fletcher Moss Rangers to playing age-above football in the United academy, to banging in two goals against rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford, the boy’s done good.

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