Owen labels Rashford 'the weak link' as Barcelona snub haunts United's stuttering attack

Michael Owen has called Marcus Rashford the “weak link” in Manchester United’s forward line, warning that the England international risks losing his starting place as United’s attack continues to misfire in the early weeks of the season.

Rashford returned to Old Trafford this summer after successive loan spells — including a stint at Barcelona — having gone more than 18 months without playing for his boyhood club. Handed the No.9 shirt under Michael Carrick, he has featured regularly but is yet to register a single goal or assist in over 400 minutes across all competitions. United have scored eight times in five games, with five of those coming in a single match.

Owen, speaking on Premier League Productions, pointed not just to Rashford’s output but to his demeanour on the pitch. “On the left, Marcus Rashford has been probably the quietest of those attackers,” he said. “He was quiet again today in his body language, just the glum face. He just doesn’t seem to be loving his football, which has been a permanent frustration with Marcus. It does look like the weight of the world is on his shoulders.”

The former Liverpool and England striker also drew attention to the circumstances of Rashford’s departure from Barcelona, where the Catalans declined to activate the purchase option in his loan agreement and instead spent nearly three times as much to sign Anthony Gordon. Owen viewed that sequence of events as a significant signal. “Last chance saloon was Barcelona,” he said. “I couldn’t believe his luck in getting a team like Barcelona. He does reasonably well out there, but not well enough for them to keep him, and then they end up spending fortunes to replace him by buying Anthony Gordon. So it wasn’t all perfect, despite any spin that people put on it.”

Rashford’s place in the side could come under further pressure if Benjamin Sesko, who has attracted growing calls from supporters to start, returns to full fitness. Owen suggested that scenario would push Matheus Cunha to the left and leave Rashford without a clear role. “If that happens, Cunha is going to go on the left and Rashford would be the weak link in that attack as things stand,” he said.

Rashford had previously fallen out with former United manager Ruben Amorim, and his return was made possible in part by Amorim’s departure. He shares the attacking line with Bryan Mbeumo, Cunha and Sesko, all of whom are also finding consistency hard to come by — but it is Rashford who Owen has identified as the player most at risk of being left behind.