Pallister urges Rashford to seize 'second chance' as United prepare for derby against City

Gary Pallister has urged Marcus Rashford to grab his ‘second chance’ at Manchester United with both hands as Michael Carrick’s side prepare to host Manchester City at Old Trafford on Sunday in the opening derby of the 2026/27 Premier League season.

Rashford, 28, spent time on loan at Aston Villa and Barcelona last season after falling out of favour under former manager Ruben Amorim. He was eager to make his move to Spain permanent, but United — keen to shed his £325,000-a-week wages — ultimately brought him back to Old Trafford, where he has since worked his way into Carrick’s plans.

Pallister, speaking to Betarades.gr, acknowledged that fortune has played a part in Rashford’s revival. “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,” the former United defender said. “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, and I think it suited both parties for him to leave and go to Barcelona.”

Pallister added that a permanent deal at the Catalan club failed to materialise, and the subsequent arrival of Anthony Gordon as competition for the same England position only complicated Rashford’s situation further. “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 said.

The 28-year-old has shown encouraging signs in the early weeks of the new campaign. “The Everton game was the best I’ve seen him,” Pallister noted. “I’m sure he loves the club. He’s coming in with a manager in Michael that he knows he can work with, and in the first three games he seems a lot happier. We know he’s a talented player, we know he’s a threat. If he’s happy and he’s hungry, then Marcus Rashford would be in most people’s plans.”

Sunday’s derby will also carry personal significance for Lisandro Martinez, who has spoken ahead of the match about his rivalry with Erling Haaland. The Argentine centre-back most recently came out on top in January, when United ran out 2-0 winners — a result that will give Carrick’s squad confidence as they welcome City’s new head coach Enzo Maresca to the fixture for the first time.