Roy Keane on Marcus Rashford: Penny has dropped with Man Utd’s ‘lean, fighting machine’ | Football News

Marcus Rashford looks like a “lean, fighting machine” according to Roy Keane, who praised the striker for taking responsibility after a 10th goal in 10 games.

Manchester United took total control of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest with a 3-0 win in the first leg at the City Ground, Rashford opening the scoring with a fine solo run which spoke volumes for the England forward’s current confidence.

Keane said: “We were pitchside when the players came out and he looked lean. You wouldn’t want to be up against him – all the best.

“He looks like a lean, fighting machine.

“Sometimes it’s about confidence – there is where he’s peaking now. He’s played a lot of games for United and big games for England in the last few years.

“Sometimes the penny drops for a player in terms of decision-making and putting the ball in the back of the net. And they’ve needed him.

“The question mark I’ve had over Marcus in the last few years is, has he got that personality to step up to the plate?

“United have had some great strikers over the years, and I think they need someone like that. Marcus has to say he wants that responsibility to be the main man. The best players turn up week in and week out. It looks like he’s now enjoying that responsibility, which is great to see.”

When asked if Cristiano Ronaldo leaving the club has helped Rashford’s confidence, Keane replied: “When a player leaves the club the responsibility goes onto another player.

“He’s 25, not a child, sometimes when the timing is right you can be ready for that. He doesn’t get the niggly injuries anymore with his groin, he seems to have cleared it up. He looks in a great place mentally, too, which is huge. He said he reckons he took too much on away from football – and being a top footballer is hard enough.

“So putting the other stuff on the back burner and focusing on being a top player for Manchester United has seen him get his priorities right.”

Michael Dawson added to Sky Sports: “His best position is out wide on the left, but since Erik ten Hag has come in he has made a point of getting him back to his best levels.

“He was disappointing last year and struggled with form. What I see now is a completely different player, without fear and full of confidence. He doesn’t play safe and is direct with the ball at his feet.

“If he loses it, he has the aura where it doesn’t seem to faze him.”