Marcus Rashford is expected to play for Manchester United again this season, 20 months since his last appearance.
He joined Aston Villa on loan in January 2025 and then switched to Barcelona on another loan for the 2025-26 season.
It was expected to be the end of a relationship with United that has lasted for nearly two decades, since Rashford joined the club’s academy, but a proposed permanent move to Barcelona failed to materialise.
With the England international unwilling to move to Turkey or Saudi Arabia, and no offers coming from any other top European clubs, he is now set to be reintegrated into Michael Carrick’s squad.
Rashford has not played for United yet, although he has returned to first-team training and been given the No 14 shirt he wore at Barcelona.
He missed the recent friendly with Leeds but is expected to feature in the final pre-season game against AC Milan.
It will certainly be interesting to observe United’s team when the season begins. Rashford’s best position is on the left wing, but that position is currently stacked for the Red Devils. Matheus Cunha, Patrick Dorgu and new youngster signing Tynan Thompson are all contesting for a spot there.
Fulltime Herald has broken down how United can set up with all these options.
Without a doubt, when Rashford is playing at his best, he can offer something United don’t currently have on that wing. Dorgu has the ability to roam into central areas and attack with powerful shots from the edge of the box, or go wide and put in a cross.
Thompson is more of a traditional winger. He will make runs at his full-back and look to exchange passes with a teammate, or drive in towards the byline and deliver an old-school cross.
Cunha loves to drift into central areas, making little pass exchanges and looking for space to curl the ball in.
Rashford, at his best, can be far more direct, running at wingers and driving into the box. When United are building from deep he can look to make runs in behind that can be picked out by midfielders or even centre-backs, a similar role to the one Bryan Mbeumo played on the right under Ruben Amorim.
Turning up the heat ♨️ pic.twitter.com/pg3whObRKz
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 12, 2026
But United will also benefit from the fact that Rashford will not be a shoo-in for the starting XI. Indeed, he will almost certainly not start their opening game against Hull on 22 August, and if he is out of form he will make only more of substitute appearances.
That was the situation at Barcelona, and it is likely to suit him at United. Indeed, one of the problems that culminated in his departure is that a lot of responsibility was placed on Rashford’s shoulders as one of United’s best players at the time.
Whether or not he has the personality to handle such a burden, or whether he handled it up to a point, is open to argument, but he appeared to have tired of it, which led to his search for a new challenge elsewhere.
This return may not be what he or the club want, but the conditions are different to the ones that led to his departure. And if the better squad and healthier dressing room can help him play at the highest level he can, it could be excellent for all parties concerned.
Charging up ⬆️🔋
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 13, 2026
United coach Carrick said he was looking forward to seeing Rashford back in action.
“He’s our player, you know, and he’s come back great. He’s just like any other player,” Carrick said.
“I’ve known Marcus a long time and he gives us something a little bit different. And he’s been in great spirits since he’s been back. He’s been back two or three days training and it’s just pretty normal, to be honest. And we’re looking forward to the start of the season.”
