When a certain 18-year-old burst onto the scene in a Europa League Round of 16 clash against Midtjylland at Old Trafford in the 2015-16 campaign, there were little doubts about whether the youngster would be the next big thing at the club or not. Few knew him before he scored twice under the starry skies of Greater Manchester, but very few don't know him now. After all, Marcus Rashford is a world sensation already.
 

Around a season and a half on from that day, with the new Premier League campaign less than a month away, the young Englishman has already proved a host of doubters wrong in his short yet comprehensive Manchester United career.  The youngster has come a long way, capturing the hearts and minds of millions of not just Manchester United fans, but football fans from every generation. And with the clock ticking down to the commencement of the 2017-18 Premier League campaign, it could prove to be another special season for the local boy turned superstar.


 

When Rashford broke into the side under Louis van Gaal, it was the presence of numerous injuries in the first team that propelled him forward. Last season, which was Jose Mourinho's first in-charge of the Old Trafford giants, Rashford took full advantage of the injury suffered by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and became a key part of the United side towards the end of the campaign. And while it goes to prove that the striker has come up with the goods when the team has needed it the most, he will need to keep on doing that as time wears on.
 

With Romelu Lukaku having being acquired from Everton for a colossal 75 million fee, it's a wee strange not to hear people question whether Rashford will get regular football or not. The same was being said last season, but it only goes to prove how well Rashford has done to come close to being a regular starter at the Theatre of Dreams.
 

Currently just 19, Rashford hasn't played out a season in which he has been a first XI regular. He was hardly in the reckoning during United's Champions League campaign under Louis van Gaal and had to prove himself on many occasions last term. Ibrahimovic's talismanic presence up front didn't make it easy for him to break into the side, but he kept on working hard and plugging along to make his mark. As the season wore on, he got the chance that he thoroughly deserved.
 

His performance against Chelsea at Old Trafford stands out above all others; but Rashford was a constant threat to defenders whenever he took to the pitch. His tendency to never allow defenders a moment's peace and always look to run at the backline is a style that Mourinho's system thrives on will stand him in good stead for the upcoming campaign. The manner in which the former Real Madrid and Chelsea boss has utilised him till now shows how well he can fit into the system; the counter-attacking style. Hand him the ball and let him run at the defence. That's the directness that Mourinho likes to have in his teams.
 

New signing Romelu Lukaku has cost the club a fortune and his incompleteness as a striker may not make him a danger in counter-attacking situations. He lacks the ability to hold up play consistently and as what's quite evident, his first touch isn't too good as well. Rashford though, has a lot of qualities that Lukaku lacks. He can turn and unleash a bundle of pace and allow others to enter play with some perfection as well. The fact that he's young and that someone as expensive as Lukaku has been brought in, means that he won't be a first choice too many times.
 

But the manner in which the Englishman has been used in the pre-season friendlies shows that Mourinho has as much faith in him as he has in Lukaku. His performance against LA Galaxy and the energy and zippiness he brought to the game is something the club will need throughout the season, especially when Lukaku falters. The impression that he know has on the manager would go a long way in making this season a crucial one in his career.


 

The last two campaigns were ones that can well dubbed as ones of transition and evolving out of transition. With Jose Mourinho now 12 months into the job, it's time for Marcus Rashford to steps up to the plate and prove what he's made of, again.


Kaustubh Pandey