Giggs Hails 'Exciting' Rashford

Ryan Giggs hails "exciting prospect" Marcus Rashford as Manchester United prepare to face Southampton in the EFL Cup final on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.

It will be a year on Saturday since Rashford made his Manchester United debut against FC Midtjylland in the Europa League last-32 second leg, scoring twice after Anthony Martial's injury in the warm-up.

The 19-year-old is now a full England international and Giggs saw his potential as United's assistant manager in 2016.

"I remember watching him the week before that game (against FC Midtjylland)," Giggs said. "It may have even been three or four days before that game, training with the reserves.

"He obviously stood out and he looked sharp, but little did we know that three or four days later he would be starring and ending the season so well and then going onto the Euros with England.

"He is an exciting prospect. He is just so quick and direct, and you saw that against Blackburn in the FA Cup.

"I always say he is a Man United player because he is exciting, he has got a good mentality and he is tough. I think he'll do well at United for a long, long time."

Giggs, who worked his way up through the ranks at Manchester United in the 1990s, emphasised the importance of home-grown talent at the club.

"It is important," Giggs added. "Someone who the fans (see) have come through the ranks, someone who is one of their own, someone who grew up in the area.

"It is important and it is important at most clubs, but obviously United when they've got that great history of young players coming through there's that added pressure as well.

"I think the fans always get behind the young players that come through, even if they make mistakes they still get behind them.

"The best thing of all is that Marcus is a good kid. He wants to improve, wants to be the best and to come through as a centre forward at United is not easy.

"Historically you'll buy centre forwards in and pay a lot of money for them, so it is brilliant what he is doing right now."

Credit: Skysports.com