Maguire urges Rashford to 'do a lot more' after first Old Trafford start in 626 days

Harry Maguire has challenged Marcus Rashford to raise his game further after the forward made his first Manchester United start at Old Trafford in 626 days, coming in a 5-2 victory over Ipswich Town.

Rashford’s return to the XI had been one of the more closely watched subplots of the summer, given his well-publicised desire to remain at Barcelona and the uncertainty over how supporters and team-mates would receive him. On the evidence of the Ipswich result, both groups appear to have welcomed him back warmly.

Maguire, who knows better than most what it means to weather difficult periods at Old Trafford, was quick to praise Rashford while also setting a higher bar. “He’s a great talent,” the defender said after the final whistle. “You’ve seen that he’s always a threat. 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. I think if we keep him fit, we keep him happy, he keeps driven, keeps hungry, I think he is a great asset to have.”

Maguire also pushed back against any tendency to reduce Rashford’s legacy at the club to his recent struggles, pointing out that the 28-year-old has given United many years of service across a period when the club itself was far from consistent. “You’ve got to remember that Marcus has had a wonderful career for this club,” he said. “When you play at this club for numerous years, there are going to be bad seasons, and when the bad seasons come, everyone piles on you.”

“Marcus has been part of a rough ride for Manchester United, and when that happens and the team doesn’t deliver, players get digged 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 and sharp, and we’re excited to have him and hopefully he can chip in goals.”

Rashford’s performance was ultimately overshadowed by Bruno Fernandes, who claimed the match ball with a hat-trick against Gary O’Neil’s side. But Maguire’s comments suggest the squad views Rashford’s reintegration as a genuine opportunity rather than a reluctant accommodation — and that expectations are already rising.