United Faithful Feature: Marcus Rashford's debut goals

Marcus Rashford clearly has a penchant for scoring on his debut or first appearance in a new competition.

This time last year he was already making a name for himself- albeit at Reserve and youth team level- scoring eight times in six games for United’s second and third string sides.

Having been named on the bench- without playing- for first team matches at Leicester and Watford, the youngster was included as a shock late inclusion in the starting line-up for a Europa League tie with Midtjylland at Old Trafford.

The rest, as they say, is history…

That night, in the absence of the hamstrung Anthony Martial, 18 year old Rashford burst on to the scene with two debut goals to help the Reds into the last 16 of the competition.

Far from being mere flashes in the pan, those two goals would be the start of an incredible run for club and country; so much so that he’s now scored more for United than any other player in the time since his fairytale debut in February.

Here, we break down Rashford’s debut strikes including his most recent in the EFL Cup win at Northampton.

Europa League (v Midtjylland, 25 February 2016)

Rashford opened his Reds account with a typical poacher’s goal, arriving into the area at the perfect moment to side-foot home a Juan Mata cut-back.
His second, a first time effort from a Guillermo Varela cross, sent Old Trafford into raptures as the Reds overcame a first leg deficit to progress into the last 16.

Premier League (v Arsenal, 28 February 2016)

Three days later, the title-chasing Gunners provided an altogether more difficult challenge, but again the 18 year old rose to meet it with another superb two-goal display.
Again Varela provided the assist and again Rashford was in the right place to tap home from close range, becoming United’s third youngest Premier League scorer in the process.
It would take just three minutes for him to find the net again, heading home Jesse Lingard’s excellent cross from ten yards.

Manchester derby (v City away, 20 March 2016)

A month later, he was at it again, this time on the biggest stage yet. Rashford produced a piece of brilliance on 16 minutes, leaving Martin Demichelis for dead before racing through  and beating Joe Hart. 

It was a moment that would decide the derby, and elevate our home grown talent to fan-favourite in the stands.

England (v Australia, 27 May 2016)

Rashford's form at club level had caught the eye of national team boss Roy Hodgson who rewarded the striker with a first England cap in May's pre-Euros friendly at the Stadium of Light.

No sooner was he out of the tunnel than on the scoresheet, volleying in after only 138 seconds to become England's youngest ever debut scorer.

England Under-21s (v Norway, 6 September 2016)

Many felt that Rashford should have figured more in England's Euro 2016 plans but he returned for 2016/17 with a new manager to impress in Sam Allardyce.

"Big Sam" was in the stands as Marcus made his England Under-21 bow last month and saw his young prospect score two goals of real quality either side of the break.

They were followed by a well-taken penalty to complete a debut Under-21 hat-trick and another day to remember.

EFL Cup (v Northampton Town, 21 September 2016)

Rashford's most recent strike in a new competition came just last night in the EFL Cup third round at League One Northampton. 

With the Reds in need of a second half goal, both he and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were introduced from the bench and United's class soon showed.

Rashford set up Ander Herrera to put the visitors ahead before himself capitalising on a goalkeeping error to make it a staggering six scoring debuts in eight scarcely believable months.