Why Rashford Is Tougher As Ever

Marcus Rashford admits he is kicked more in senior football than at Academy level, although the Manchester United teen acknowledges the extra physical attention has toughened him up.

The teenage striker is the cover star for the November edition of Inside United magazine and that includes his in-depth interview, which is the biggest of his fledgling career to date. 

Amazingly, Rashford was still a relatively unknown prospect playing for the Under-18s at this time last year and the Academy graduate admits first-team football has taken some getting used to. 

Marcus also agrees that his speed draws more and more fouls from opposition defenders, which was famously a problem that a youthful Cristiano Ronaldo experienced during his early years with United.

Asked if he receives more kicks, Rashford agrees but discusses the positives that stem from this school of hard knocks: “A little bit but you don’t go through a game of football without having a knock," he says. "I don’t think I have done that for years! It does toughen you up. 

"When you get the first knock it kind of wakes you up, you know they are men and it is not like Under-18s when you can take loads of knocks and know you will be fine, that you won’t feel anything after the game. 

"You definitely get harder knocks but it helps. You just get up and get on with the game, and then you can give it to them back. It is important and when you are young I think you need those types of game.”