Manchester United 4-1 Burton Albion: Five Talking Points

We round up the talking points from Manchester United's 4-1 win over Burton Albion in the Carabao Cup third round.

Marcus Rashford scored twice for Jose Mourinho's side, with Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial also finding the net before Burton's late consolation goal.

Here are the top talking points from the game...

Red-hot Rashford

With Romelu Lukaku looking on from the bench, Rashford made the most of his opportunity to lead the line. The 19-year-old opened the scoring with a deft finish from Jesse Lingard's flick, and he netted United's second with a thumping long-range finish from Daley Blind's pass.

Rashford, who also provided the assist for Martial's goal, made it a torrid evening for Burton's defenders. His pace and movement was too much for the Championship side, and he might have had a hat-trick if it wasn't for some last-ditch blocks.

It continued a fine start to the season. In nine appearances for United and England in all competitions, Rashford has now scored six goals and provided four assists. His eye-catching performance was also a reminder of what he can do through the middle.

"Over the last two seasons he's played most of his football on the left-hand side, but as a centre-forward I think he can be a superstar," said Sky Sports pundit Phil Neville. "I think we underestimate him in this country. I don't think we realised how good he could be as a centre-forward."

Lindelof doubts remain

Victor Lindelof was handed only his third Manchester United start since his £31m arrival from Benfica in the summer. The Swede is being bedded in slowly by Mourinho as he adapts to the rigours of English football, and on this evidence he still has some way to go.

His most uncomfortable moment came midway through the first half when he badly misjudged a high ball under pressure from Luke Varney. The Burton man charged forward and released Joe Mason, who was only denied by Sergio Romero's fine save.

Lindelof had another nervy moment 10 minutes later when he under-hit a pass deep in United territory. It might have proved costly, but Burton's Jamie Allen was unable to make the opportunity count. Lindelof improved when Mourinho switched to a back three at half-time, but it appears he is still a work-in-progress.

Mourinho up for the cup

Mourinho made nine changes from the team which beat Everton on Sunday, but there was still plenty of experience in his team - with substitutes Scott McTominay and Joel Pereira the only unfamiliar names in the 18-man squad. It showed that the trophy matters to Mourinho.

And why shouldn't it? Mourinho has won it four times during his managerial career - and he will be well aware that a fifth success would take him above Sir Alex Ferguson and the late Brian Clough as the most successful manager in the competition's history.

United are hunting bigger prizes this year, but it seems the Carabao Cup will not be taken lightly.

Carrick and Herrera boost Jose

Michael Carrick and Ander Herrera have had to bide their time this season, with Nemanja Matic's arrival from Chelsea pushing the duo down the pecking order, but their accomplished performances on Wednesday night will come as a boost to Mourinho in the wake of Paul Pogba's recent injury.

Carrick dictated play with his usual poise at the base of midfield, completing 101 of his 104 passes, one of which found Lingard in the build-up to Rashford's opening goal. Herrera, meanwhile, produced a typically tenacious display, making more tackles (five) and more interceptions (four) than any of his team-mates.

With Pogba potentially facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines, Carrick and Herrera could come in handy to Mourinho in the weeks ahead. On this evidence, they are more than ready to step in.

Shaw off the pace?

There was also a first appearance of the season for Luke Shaw, who came on for Juan Mata at half-time and lined up at left wing-back. The former Southampton youngster has struggled to win over Mourinho at United, and this performance is unlikely to have changed his manager's mind.

In the Sky Sports studio, former United player Neville was unimpressed. "When you've been criticised by your manager publicly, and are probably fighting for your United future, you have to sprint everywhere, especially in a game when there is nothing to lose against Burton," he said.

"I didn't see that real hunger from Shaw to sprint to every ball, I saw someone that was coasting. He needs to come out of that comfort zone because if he wants to be Manchester United's left-back he has to play at the level of someone like Ander Herrera, who got his chance and flew into every tackle.

"Shaw needs to get up to that level of intensity for every minute of every minute he plays for this football club, at the minute he is not."

Credit: Skysports.com