Marcus Rashford starts for Manchester United after 626 days

Marcus Rashford is back in a Manchester United starting XI for the first time in 626 days. The 28-year-old forward’s last start for the club came on December 12, 2024, during a Europa League group stage match against Viktoria Plzen. He played 56 minutes that night. What followed was a winding road through two loan spells, a managerial change, and the kind of career uncertainty that makes transfer deadline day feel like a therapy session. The long road back A loan move to Aston Villa materialized during the January 2025 window, giving Rashford a change of scenery. That stint was followed by a more high-profile move to Barcelona for the 2025-26 season, where he contributed to their La Liga title triumph. At the Camp Nou, Rashford made between 32 and 49 appearances across all competitions. The wide range in that number reflects the difference between league-only and total appearance counts across various reports, but the takeaway is clear: he played regularly and played well enough to help Barcelona win domestic silverware. Back in Manchester, the landscape had shifted. Michael Carrick, the former United midfielder, took charge of the club in November 2024. Carrick’s appointment broug...