Marcus Rashford: Tipped to impress at his first World Cup

Ashley Young: 12/1 Marcus Rashford will be a star at the World Cup

Football

Tue May 29, 2018 · 8y ago

Ashley Young believes his Manchester United team-mate Marcus Rashford has the potential to "set the world alight" and is sure the forward will be a "major player" for England at this summer's World Cup.

While Rashford, 20, has suffered an inconsistent season with United, he still managed 13 goals to take him to a total of 32 in all competitions since being handed his Red Devils first-team debut by Louis van Gaal in February 2016.

He registered a brace on that debut, in the Europa League, and has also netted on his Premier League, EFL Cup, Champions League, England Under-21 and England senior bows.

Rashford can be backed at 12/1 with Sky Bet to be England's top goalscorer at the competition.

Asked how he felt Rashford would deal with his first World Cup, Young said: "I think he's going to cope really well.

"I've said it from the time I saw him in the youth team - he's got a massive future ahead of him. He's a fantastic player and if he keeps going the way he is, he can set the world alight.

"It's the World Cup coming up and that could be his stage to show everybody just how far he's come from when he made his debut."

Young added of Rashford, who has netted twice in 17 England appearances: "I think if you look at the goals he has scored on how many different debuts, it just shows in itself he steps up in the big games and he can produce.

"He's definitely been fantastic for us at United and he's definitely going to be a major player for us at the World Cup."

The Manchester United youngster is also 66/1 to win the World Cup's Golden Boot award.

Young also expressed his confidence in the entire squad in terms of the Three Lions "going there to try to win" the tournament in Russia.

The pair are part of what is set to be the third-youngest squad to represent England at a World Cup, with Young the oldest member of Gareth Southgate's 23-man party.

The 32-year-old feels it is a "fantastic group" with "some exciting players who can change a game in a moment", and said: "For me, the squad can achieve as much as it wants to.

"I think there's definitely going to be a good tournament from this England squad.

"We are focused on going to the World Cup, and not just being out there - it's going there to try to win a World Cup, and I have every confidence in everyone's ability in the squad that we can go and do that."