Harry Maguire believes Marcus Rashford can become a significant asset for Manchester United, provided the forward remains happy, driven, and hungry to perform. Barcelona had the opportunity to make Rashford's loan move permanent this summer, but he returned to Manchester amid questions about his place in the squad.
Rashford recently made his first start for United in 626 days against Ipswich Town. Maguire is confident that if Rashford is committed to working and improving, his potential at United can be fully realized again. "It's been really good since he came in," Maguire said after the team's 5-2 victory on Sunday. "He's trained really well and us as players, if Marcus wants to be here and wants to work and wants to improve and wants to help the team, of course, we're willing to have him in the squad."
Maguire described Rashford as a great talent who is constantly a threat. "I think today, I think he was a threat constantly, and I think he could still do a lot more and I think he'll say that he can do more," Maguire added. "I think if we keep him fit, we keep him happy, he keeps driven, keeps hungry, and I think he is a great asset to have."
Rashford's United career has seen him loaned out twice, first to Aston Villa and then to Barcelona. Maguire noted that at 28, Rashford has experienced adversity, which can be a source of strength. "Well, I think also you've got to remember that Marcus has had a wonderful career for this club as well," Maguire continued. "When you play at this club for numerous years, there's going to be bad seasons, and when the bad seasons come everyone piles on you. That's part and parcel again for playing this club."
He added that Rashford has been part of difficult periods for Manchester United, and when the team has not performed, players have faced criticism. "Marcus was here for, I don't know how many years, and every season wasn't going to be perfect because as a team and as a club, we haven't been perfect from top to bottom and we haven't been challenging at the top end when you're winning Premier Leagues year after year after year. It's easy as a player to mingle into that group and play well. So Marcus has been part of a rough ride for Manchester United, and when that happens and the team doesn't deliver, players get dug out and he was one of them at that stage. I've been through it. Everyone's been through it at this club. He's come back in, he's trained over the summer you can tell, and he's come back really fit sharp and we're excited to have him. Hopefully he can chip in goals."
Maguire also commented on the external pressure surrounding the club, noting that new signings will need to adapt to the intense scrutiny. "It was an important win, and I think after last week there's so much noise going about and it feels like you're in a crisis after you've lost one game and that's playing for this club," Maguire explained. "It's not a crisis for us. I just think the outside makes it, tries to get inside and tries to make it feel like a crisis, but you've got to remain focused. I think this season, I think the biggest thing when you play for this club is, when you win, don't get too high and when you lose, don't get too low. I think that's so important for this club and I think the new lads would have had a little bit of a shock over the last week if they've been reading anything or watching TV and things like that."
Regarding Kobbie Mainoo's performance, Maguire was highly impressed. "I thought he was brilliant today, Kobbie. I think to say he hasn't played for I don't know how long, not really got many minutes in pre-season and things like that, he was magnificent. He put a great shift in and I think his work without the ball has improved so much since Michael's been in. That's probably credit to Michael and his staff. But I think without the ball now, he's becoming a real monster in there, and I think he wins a lot of second balls. He wins a lot of duels. You won't want to play against him in there and that's the biggest compliment I can give to him from playing and watching him behind."