Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has insisted that Marcus Rashford has huge potential to exploit, but he faces a challenge to help him do it during his loan spell.
The 27-year-old joined Villa from Man Utd last week on loan until the end of the season, while we hold an option to buy to potentially make it a permanent switch in the summer.
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For now, the focus for all concerned will be on making sure the next four months are a success for both parties, and Rashford could be in line to make his Villa debut this weekend when we face Tottenham in the FA Cup.
His form in the 2022/23 campaign is almost a distant memory at this stage having struggled to replicate those levels in the last two seasons, while there were also claims from Ruben Amorim that cast doubt over his professionalism and application in training.
In turn, Rashford has a lot to prove during his time with us, and with Villa still targeting Champions League and FA Cup success as well as securing a return to European football next season, Emery concedes that although he has a big challenge ahead to get Rashford’s career back on track, he’s relishing the opportunity to work with the England forward.
“I’m very happy with the transfer window we did and I’m very happy with him,” he told reporters, as per VillaTV. “The conversation I had with him was a very normal conversation between a player and a coach, speaking about football.
“The only thing I want from him is the best football. As a person, we’re introducing him into the dressing room as one player more helping us.
“His capacity and potential is still being a huge potential to exploit. I don’t want to know the reason why he’s leaving from Manchester, but I’m very happy keeping him here.
“I’m very happy to try and exploit and to help him to recover his performances individually and collectively. My challenge with him is a huge challenge. His challenge with us is a very exciting challenge.”
It’s ultimately a fresh start that Rashford was badly in need of, and while Emery and Villa will give him the environment and opportunity to thrive again, it’s on the player himself to deliver and silence the detractors.
With Ollie Watkins ruled out against Spurs this weekend due to injury, it remains to be seen if that opens the door for Rashford to come into the starting XI immediately or not, as he hasn’t featured since mid-December and will be lacking match fitness and sharpness.
Nevertheless, he’ll hope to make his debut along with Marco Asensio, and combine that potential and quality with the likes of Morgan Rogers, Jacob Ramsey, Donyell Malen and Leon Bailey, we’ll hopefully produce a devastating attacking display on Sunday.
