---
title: "Manchester United: Patience required over Marcus Rashford, says Darren Gough"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-united-patience-required-over-marcus-rashford-says-darren-gough/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Stephan Georgiou"
section: "Features"
published: "2019-09-10T15:15:40Z"
modified: "2019-09-10T15:15:40Z"
---

# Manchester United: Patience required over Marcus Rashford, says Darren Gough

**TalkSPORT pundit Darren Gough feels patience is required before Manchester United see the best of Marcus Rashford.**

Rashford has been a fixture of the United squad for the last three-and-a-half seasons after breaking through to the first team in 2016, bursting onto the scene with [two goals](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35632870) on his debut.

Starting a fifth campaign with United, Rashford is now one of few [attacking options](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/manchester-united/kadernachposition/verein/985) at Old Trafford, and has been tasked with operating wide areas for both his [club](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/marcus-rashford/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/258923/plus/0?saison=2019&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) and his [country](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/marcus-rashford/nationalmannschaft/spieler/258923/verein_id/3299/plus/0?hauptwettbewerb=&wettbewerb_id=&trainer_id=&start=09.08.2019&ende=Sep+9%2C+2019&nurEinsatz=0) so far this season.

[United](https://www.skysports.com/premier-league-table) have struggled in the early weeks of 2019/20, with just one win in their opening four league games – and [Rashford](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/top-scorers) netting just twice so far.

And while Rashford and United are yet to hit top gear, Gough feels that there need be no concern surrounding the 21-year-old’s progress.

He said on [TalkSPORT](https://twitter.com/talkSPORT/status/1171113538250608647): “I think we’ve got to give him time. I think he will score goals, but I think he will blow hot and cold because he is so young.

“Just think back to Sterling. A few years ago, we were saying ‘he doesn’t score enough goals’ – well, look at him now.

“He’s playing in a team that play to his strengths, and he’s a goal threat every single game.”

With Rashford three years Sterling’s junior, time certainly seems to be on his side to bring about a positive effect on his career – if the Manchester City winger’s progress is anything to go by.

[Sterling](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/raheem-sterling/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/134425/plus/0?saison=2015&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) headed into football as a 21-year-old having completed an arguably unremarkable first season with City following his switch from Liverpool, scoring 11 times in his debut campaign.

In contrast, Sterling has had [back-to-back seasons](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/raheem-sterling/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/134425/plus/0?saison=&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) with 20-plus goal returns, and already has six to his name this year in City colours.

[Rashford](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/marcus-rashford/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/258923) has recorded 13 goals in each of the last two seasons – though the latter total was during a lacklustre campaign in which United finished [sixth](https://www.skysports.com/premier-league-table/2018).

So perhaps with the surroundings Sterling enjoys at champions City, Rashford would excel on a similar level – and maybe, the answer to finding a lethal goalscoring touch would be identifying a team that plays to Rashford’s strengths – which Gough says has worked for Sterling in recent seasons.

***United fans – can Rashford become the club’s main striker? Will he be able to fulfil his potential at Old Trafford? Join the discussion by commenting below!***