MARCUS RASHFORD did not get on against Sabah and did not need to for Manchester United supporters to sing his name again.
For the first time in nearly two years, the Stretford End aired Rashford’s chant, which ends with the lyric “like Manchester, Rashford is red”.
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Of all the substitutes, Rashford generated the loudest applause from the Old Trafford’s most famous stand during his warm-up on Thursday night. They had already put their hands together for him after Rashford’s encouraging Old Trafford comeback against Ipswich Town two weeks ago.
Midway through the second half, Michael Carrick signalled to 19-year-olds Shea Lacey and Harry Amass they would be the last two to go on. As Rashford jogged back towards the dugout, Carrick spoke to him fleetingly.
It is safe to assume Carrick muttered, “You’ll be needed Sunday,” or words to that effect.
The Manchester derby is the biggest test of Carrick’s eight-month tenure.
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Carrick said: “Really pleased with Marcus. Really pleased with him, so many ways.
“I think it’s pretty obvious with his performances. Again, he was a real threat on Sunday, unfortunate not to get a little bit more success, but he was a real threat.
“I’m not really sure what else to say. We’re just really pleased to have him.
“He’s doing a lot of things really well and settled back in really quickly.
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“It was nice to keep Marcus fresh for the weekend.”
That Rashford was rested with City in mind speaks volumes of his positive return to United. His demeanour is the polar opposite from the fraught 18-month period after he scrawled his signature on a five-year contract in July 2023.
It was a timely chorus from United supporters in midweek ahead of the derby, a fixture teeming with significance for Wythenshawe-born Rashford.
As an 18-year-old in March 2016, he scored the winner at City in the last derby before Pep Guardiola touched down in Manchester. Eight-and-a-half years later at the same stadium, Rashford dominated the fallout at the Etihad without stepping foot inside it.
Ruben Amorim’s decision to drop Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho seemed to signal the death knell for their Old Trafford careers. Two days later, Rashford declared he was “ready for a new challenge”.
Apart from an enforced bench role against Newcastle in a 2-0 home defeat two weeks later, Rashford was out in the cold until he secured a loan move to Aston Villa.
Watching Rashford in open training at Carrington on Wednesday, it was a total contrast to his last open session with United in January 2025. That day, he playfully kicked birthday boy Amorim as he ran the gauntlet.
This week, Rashford was happy, buoyant and saw the funny side after he knocked a mannequin during a competitive dribble drill. He took the predictable stick from teammates with good grace.
Rashford, who could appear previously aloof, looked to be one of the boys again.
United insiders say Rashford could not have made more of an effort to make his reintegration work since he reported back for duty at their Ireland training camp in early August.
A well-placed source said: “In terms of attitude and application, he couldn’t have done much more.”
Long-time staff members have noticed that Rashford is the most positive he has been in their dealings with him – and the most smiley. The 28-year-old is among the first players to arrive for training.
Nobody is getting carried away. Rashford has only started two games though he was United’s best player at Everton, where he was questionably substituted in the 70th minute.
Rashford’s return has been smoothened by Carrick’s presence. Carrick captained Rashford on his debut, was his teammate for more than two years, then coached and managed him for three-and-a-half years.
If Amorim was still in the building, Rashford would not have been allowed back into it. He had not stepped foot in United’s £50million training hub that opened last August until five weeks ago.
United sources scoffed at a rumour that Rashford had done an initiation song at Carton House, as the 15-year-old JJ Gabriel had.
Perhaps deliberately, Rashford has not had fixed partners in the United dressing room now he is back in the fold.
Ayden Heaven and Kobbie Mainoo were by his side for the Sabah tie.
At Everton, he was flanked by Heaven and Leny Yoro while Youi Tielemans and Bryan Mbeumo were alongside him against Ipswich Town and Hull City.
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There was surprise at United that Barcelona passed on Rashford, available for £26million, only to buy his England teammate Anthony Gordon for £69.3m. His other old club Villa opted for another left winger Rashford has shared a dressing room with in Garnacho.
But Rashford is back home. He has a 21-year association with United from joining their academy at the age of seven and his handsome £325,000-a-week contract runs until 2028. Rashford has added his new ‘9’ squad number to his tattoos bearing the shirts he has donned for clubs and country.
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Rashford could easily represent England at the next European Championship and World Cup. Thomas Tuchel names his squad for the upcoming quartet of Nations League ties next week and Rashford has always been in his good books.
He is back in the United fans’, too. As Rashford’s chant goes, “he’s born to play, in red and white”.