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Erik ten Hag hails Marcus Rashford's ability to score from any position

Ten Hag hails Rashford's ability to score from any position
© Reuters
Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag praises Marcus Rashford for his ability to score "from all the positions" in the final third.

Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has hailed Marcus Rashford for his ability to score "from all the positions", having continued his excellent run of form against Leeds United on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old initially found it difficult to make his mark as a right-sided forward against the Whites, but he was moved into a central position in the second period and came up with Man United's first in their 2-2 draw with the Whites.

Rashford has now scored 20 goals and registered eight assists in 33 appearances in all competitions this season, and there have been suggestions that he could feature through the middle against Leeds on Sunday due to Wout Weghorst's disappointing performance at Old Trafford.

However, Ten Hag has said that he is yet to decide which position to use the attacker in at Elland Road.

"First off, this game, we analyse it, we will reflect on this game. Then we will see how the team is and then we will start our efforts," Ten Hag told reporters.

Marcus Rashford scores a disallowed goal for Manchester United on October 9, 2022© Reuters

"I'm very pleased Marcus is scoring from all the positions. You see his stats, he's scoring from the left, right, middle. It doesn't matter. He's always a good option to play on the right. We can move him around and give a different dynamic in a game."

Ten Hag has also played down claims that Rashford struggles to have an impact when he features on the right.

"Against Burnley, he scored from the right. Great goals. Marcus can score from anywhere, it doesn't matter if it is in the right, the centre or the left. He is scoring everywhere and, today, he scored again."

The Dutchman said that Rashford benefitted from moving into a central area against Leeds, as the Whites had to change their defensive shape to deal with the different threat.

Marcus Rashford celebrates scoring for Manchester United on August 22, 2022© Reuters

"It's difficult to analyse but I think after we made that change it's different for the opponent, it's difficult for the opponent, because the dynamic changed. The defenders are in a certain way," he added.

"They are anticipating on a certain attack then all of a sudden everything is changing, where we moved not only Rashford but we brought in [Jadon] Sancho and we brought in [Facundo] Pellistri. That changes the game as we did Saturday as well then he takes benefit from that situation, I think."

Weghorst has only scored once for the Red Devils since his arrival, with the Dutchman playing more often than originally thought due to Anthony Martial's injury problems.

Martial has not yet been officially ruled out of Sunday's trip to Leeds, although it is thought that the Frenchman's latest injury, which is related to his hip, will keep him on the sidelines this weekend.

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Written by
Matt Law

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