After falling out of favour at Manchester United, Marcus Rashford’s loan move to Aston Villa in the winter transfer window was a sensible step to take.
Securing a £40 million buy option as part of the deal also seemed like a shrewd decision by Villa, given Rashford’s talent.
The 27-year-old has shown signs that he is slowly rediscovering his best form and starting to enjoy playing football again.
Two quickfire goals in Villa’s 3-0 FA Cup victory at Preston North End on Sunday were another step in the right direction.
However, Villa manager Unai Emery’s post-match comments about Rashford indicated that he still needs to convince the club to make the move permanent.
“He is improving, but today was a significant step in his adaptation and in helping us,” Emery said.
“This is an exciting time – for the team, the players, and the supporters. Now, heading into April, we are motivated and ambitious. We have many objectives ahead.
“He is fitting into the system and the plan we have for him. He has played as a winger on the left and also as a striker. Today, we opted to use him as a striker to maximise his qualities and boost his confidence.
“In the first half, he wasn’t fully comfortable, but in the second half, he grew into the game, scoring goals. There is still work to do – building with his teammates and improving his overall adaptation.
FA Cup performances won’t determine Rashford’s fate
Villa are unlikely to make a decision about Rashford’s future based solely on statistics. However, his numbers paint an intriguing picture.
He produced the most shots (five), the most shots on target (four) and created the joint most chances (three) of any player at Deepdale.
However, Rashford’s efforts came against a team placed 14th in the Championship. His performance also continued a trend in domestic cup competitions.
According to OptaJoe, his 27 goals in the FA Cup (11) and League Cup (16) are the most of any player across the two competitions.
While those numbers are impressive, Rashford must show he can deliver in the Premier League and Champions League during the rest of this season.
He has recorded just three assists in seven appearances for the club in those competitions, highlighting why Emery insisted he still has work to do.
If Rashford wants to make his move to Villa Park permanent, he needs to improve in the league and in Europe before the season ends.
