Pallister tells Rashford he is fortunate to earn a second chance at Old Trafford

Gary Pallister has told Marcus Rashford he should consider himself fortunate to have been handed a second chance at Manchester United, with the former defender crediting manager Michael Carrick’s familiarity with the 28-year-old’s peak form as a key factor in his revival.

Rashford fell out of favour under Ruben Amorim in December 2024 and spent the following 18 months on loan at Aston Villa and then Barcelona. United had been eager to move on his £325,000-a-week wages during the summer window, and a permanent deal with Barcelona was tabled at £26m — only for the Spanish club to decline. With no exit secured, Rashford has worked his way back into Carrick’s plans and started United’s last two Premier League fixtures.

“I think Rashford has been fortunate in the respect of Michael being at the club when Marcus was in his pomp and when he was earning that new contract,” Pallister said. “That’s what Michael probably remembers. A couple of years after he signed that deal he didn’t look happy. He obviously got put in the bomb squad, along with three or four of the players, and his body language wasn’t great, his form wasn’t great.”

Pallister acknowledged that the Barcelona spell failed to reignite Rashford’s career, noting that Anthony Gordon’s emergence as a rival for the same position — including at the World Cup with England — added further pressure. “I think it’s safe to say he’s been fortunate to get a second chance at United and I’m now expecting him to grab it with both hands,” he added. “The Everton game was the best I’ve seen him. If he’s happy and he’s hungry, then Marcus Rashford would be in most people’s Premier League teams.”

Carrick himself offered an upbeat assessment of the forward ahead of the Manchester derby. “Really pleased with him in so many ways. He was a real threat on Sunday, unfortunate to not get more success, but he was a real threat,” the United manager said. “I’m not sure what else to say — just really pleased to have him. We have good options so trying to keep everyone fresh.”

Rashford has made three appearances under Carrick so far, operating in his preferred position on the left flank. Whether he can sustain that form through a high-profile derby will be the next test of a comeback that, by Pallister’s reckoning, he was fortunate to be given at all.