Rashford, once hailed as one of United's brightest stars, has come under fire for what many perceive as a lack of effort on the pitch. The 26-year-old forward, who was instrumental during the 2022-23 season with an impressive 30 goals in 56 appearances across all competitions, has seen a dramatic dip in form, drawing sharp criticism from fans.

Rashford’s slump has been particularly evident in the current 2024-25 campaign, where he has yet to find the back of the net despite starting all three of United’s matches thus far. In fact, he has managed to find the net just eight times in all competitions since the start of the 2023-24 campaign - which highlights his plight in front of the goal.

Among his critics is former Liverpool player and manager Souness, who has not minced words in his assessment of Rashford’s performances.

In the Three up Front podcast, Souness said: "I don’t consider Marcus Rashford’s Manchester United career to be great. He’s a young man with enormous potential, but it looks like it’s a burden for him to turn up on a Saturday and play for 90 minutes. When I think about Rashford, I don’t think about the wonderful goals or his pace; I think about things like the game against Luton last season. He was just jogging around and Ross Barkley ran around him three or four times."

In an effort to regain his form, Rashford has reportedly been putting in extra hours on the training ground and is working with Manchester United’s assistant coach and club legend Ruud van Nistelrooy. The Dutch is said to be focusing on improving Rashford’s back-post awareness and refining his runs across the box, key aspects that could help the Englishman rediscover his goal-scoring touch.

The Red Devils are now gearing up for a high-stakes encounter against their fierce rivals Liverpool on September 1. The match at Old Trafford is expected to be a crucial test for Rashford, who will be eager to silence his critics and make a significant contribution to his team’s efforts.