Former top-flight Golden Boot winner Ian Wright wants to see Marcus Rashford add “a couple of goals” to his promising start at Aston Villa.
Rashford has three assists in six appearances since joining Villa on loan from Manchester United in January after setting up Marco Asensio’s first goal in their 2-0 FA Cup fifth round win over Cardiff City, turning provider for the midfielder again after supplying both of his strikes in their 2-1 Premier League victory over Chelsea six days earlier.
“It’s still bitty,” Arsenal icon Wright replied when he was asked to assess the former England forward’s form by ITV Sport.
“He got a bit fortunate in respect of that cutback [for Asensio] but, in the main, he’s trying to go at people. He could do that more. I’d like to see him score a couple of goals. It’s not like he’s not trying. He’s just easing himself in and getting going.”
“As a top manager with a big club you want options” 🔢
Roy Keane on Aston Villa finding the right balance with their choices in attack #AVFC | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/11Db6AKDQN
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) February 28, 2025
Marcus Rashford stats
New United manager Ruben Amorim did not give Rashford any minutes in the nine games before the 27-year-old switched to Villa Park.
The six chances he fashioned for Villa against the Championship side matched the most Rashford created in any of his 426 matches for Manchester United.
He has seven goals and six assists in 30 matches in all competitions, netting four times and setting up three in the league.
Three of those came in Amorim’s first two league games after arriving from Sporting in November, hitting the opener in a 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town and scoring twice in a 4-0 home win over Everton.
Marcus Rashford ➡️ Marco Asensio ⚽
The duo are at it again for Aston Villa!@AVFCOfficial | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/opDqkYZWVI
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) February 28, 2025
Villa options ‘good’ for Emery – Keane
Asensio’s arrival in January from Paris St-Germain has added to Villa manager Unai Emery’s attacking possibilities, which include the likes of England striker Ollie Watkins and midfielders Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers.
“We argue most weekends about options,” suggested former Manchester United captain Roy Keane. “We see City struggle [without top scorer Erling] Haaland, we see Arsenal [operating without an orthodox striker].
“As a top manager with a big club, you want options. Villa have plenty – it’s just about who to put in, who to take out. It’s good for the manager; that’s what you need with a lot of big games coming up.”
Villa visit Club Brugge in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday (5.45pm GMT) before travelling to Brentford in the Premier League four days later (5.30pm).