Rashford was praised by Keane for removing doubts as Neville demands consistency like Salah

Rashford was praised by Keane for removing doubts as Neville demands consistency like Salah

Marcus Rashford celebrates his goal in the EFL Cup final

Manchester United legend Roy Keane has saluted Marcus Rashford for proving he has the character to be the team’s main man, but Gary Neville now wants him to repeat his form season after season.

Rashford is enjoying a phenomenal season, with his 25 goals in all competitions before Sunday’s trip to Liverpool was already his best appearance for a season.

There appears to be doubt over Rashford’s long-term future at United after a disappointing 2021-22 campaign, but he has taken on a new life since the arrival of Erik ten Hag.

He showed real promise before the World Cup, but since his return from Qatar, Rashford’s form has reached new heights, scoring 10 goals in his previous 10 league games going into Sunday.

Those results included five goalscoring appearances in a row, with the England international giving United a clinical touch in attack – 25 of his goals have come from just 16.5 xG (goals expected).

Keane admits he doubts Rashford in that regard but the 25-year-old has emphatically proved him wrong.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Keane said: “He’s been in top form and what has been surprising in the last few months is, I’m not sure if Marcus has the personality to want to be a main player, but he has, especially with [Cristiano] Ronaldo gone and [Anthony ] Martial was injured, he had to take that responsibility.

“His goals, the kind of goals he gets: he’s scored a few headers recently. I never knew he had it in his locker.

“We obviously know about his speed, his ability to beat people, but I think he enjoys the responsibility. He is in the form of life, he looks fit, he seems clear mentally, he is more focused on his football now.

“There’s been question marks over the last few years about whether he’s distracted, a lot of people are depending on him. Now it looks like football is his priority and he’s getting the prize.”

However, Neville – another former United captain – feels Rashford must now make sure this season is not just a flash.

Twice previously he has broken the record 20 goals in a season but has been unable to maintain that level, whereas one of his opponents on Sunday – Liverpool’s Salah – has done so in all six of his campaigns with the Reds.

This ability has inspired Liverpool to success in the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup and Champions League.

“I think Marcus can see Salah,” Neville added. What Marcus has done this season has been fantastic, but Salah has been doing it for six or seven seasons, winning Premier League titles, Champions League trophies.

“He’s reliable and consistent and that’s where Marcus is now building that kind of feeling and momentum into his game, but he has to do that for the next three, four, five seasons and take Manchester United to the title that Salah had at Liverpool. . . “