Harry Maguire has backed Marcus Rashford to become a huge asset for Manchester United after the forward made his first start for the club in 626 days during a 5-2 victory over Ipswich Town.
Rashford returned to Old Trafford this summer after Spanish club Barcelona turned down the option to sign him permanently following a loan spell. Questions had surrounded whether the 28-year-old forward would be reintegrated into the first-team squad under manager Michael Carrick.
The former Manchester United academy graduate spent time on loan at Premier League rivals Aston Villa before moving to Spain. Prior to Sunday's match against Ipswich Town, Rashford had not started a game for Manchester United since 2024.
Following the five-goal victory on Sunday, Maguire expressed confidence that Rashford can regain his best form if he remains committed to improving his performance.
"It's been really good since he came in," Maguire said after the match. "He's trained really well and us as players, if Marcus wants to be here and wants to work and wants to improve and wants to help the team, of course, we're willing to have him in the squad."
"He's a great talent. You've seen that he's always a threat. I think today, I think he was a threat constantly, and I think he could still do a lot more and I think he'll say that he can do more," Maguire added. "I think if we keep him fit, we keep him happy, he keeps driven, keeps hungry, and I think he is a great asset to have."
Rashford's return to Old Trafford
Rashford had previously made an appearance off the bench during Manchester United's 2-0 defeat away at Hull City. That result triggered intense public criticism of the team, a pressure Maguire knows well from his own career at Old Trafford.
Maguire, an England international defender who moved to Manchester United from Leicester City in 2019, noted that squad members often face heavy media focus during difficult periods in a season.
"Well, I think also you've got to remember that Marcus has had a wonderful career for this club as well," Maguire said when asked if Rashford had changed since returning to the group. "When you play at this club for numerous years, there's going to be bad seasons, and when the bad seasons come everyone piles on you. That's part and parcel again for playing this club."
"Marcus was here for, I don't know how many years, and every season wasn't going to be perfect because as a team and as a club, we haven't been perfect from top to bottom and we haven't been challenging at the top end when you're winning Premier Leagues year after year after year," Maguire explained. "It's easy as a player to mingle into that group and play well."
"So Marcus has been part of a rough ride for Manchester United, and when that happens and the team doesn't deliver, players get dug out and he was one of them at that stage," Maguire continued. "I've been through it. Everyone's been through it at this club. He's come back in, he's trained over the summer you can tell, and he's come back really fit sharp and we're excited to have him. Hopefully he can chip in goals."
Dressing room reaction to external noise
The defender also discussed how external criticism creates a perception of turmoil following any negative result for Manchester United, particularly for summer transfer additions.
New signings Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba experienced that media spotlight following the loss at Hull City before Sunday's win over Ipswich Town.
"It was an important win, and I think after last week there's so much noise going about and it feels like you're in a crisis after you've lost one game and that's playing for this club," Maguire said. "It's not a crisis for us. I just think the outside makes it, tries to get inside and tries to make it feel like a crisis, but you've got to remain focused."
"I think this season, I think the biggest thing when you play for this club is, when you win, don't get too high and when you lose, don't get too low," Maguire added. "I think that's so important for this club and I think the new lads would have had a little bit of a shock over the last week if they've been reading anything or watching TV and things like that."
Mainoo and Fernandes impress against Ipswich
While midfielder Bruno Fernandes secured the headlines by scoring a hat-trick in the 5-2 victory, Maguire highlighted the performance of Kobbie Mainoo in central midfield.
Mainoo, a graduate of Manchester United's academy, delivered an impactful performance despite having limited playing time during pre-season fixtures.
"I thought he was brilliant today, Kobbie," Maguire said of the midfielder. "I think to say he hasn't played for I don't know how long, not really got many minutes in pre-season and things like that, he was magnificent."
"He put a great shift in and I think his work without the ball has improved so much since Michael's been in. That's probably credit to Michael and his staff," Maguire said, praising the coaching under Carrick.
"But I think without the ball now, he's becoming a real monster in there, and I think he wins a lot of second balls. He wins a lot of duels. You won't want to play against him in there and that's the biggest compliment I can give to him from playing and watching him behind."
