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Several factors are contributing to Marcus Rashford's slow start during his second stint at Manchester United, with multiple reports now shedding light on a hidden injury that has been hampering the winger's progress.
Rashford departed Manchester United quietly and returned to Old Trafford through much the same low-key route.
There were no celebrations, no official club announcement, no cheesy social media clip when the youth academy product came back to the club he grew up supporting. Largely because his return was a byproduct of his failure to land the permanent transfer to Barcelona that he had so publicly desired.
By the time Rashford made his muted second appearance at Old Trafford against Ipswich Town, he was the focus of an early chant from the stands. Rarely has there been reason for supporters to sing it since.
Rashford has yet to register a goal or an assist in United colors this season. That victory over Ipswich remains the only win he has featured in. Michael Carrick didn't even hand his former colleague a single minute as United desperately chased a winner at Elland Road on Sunday.
Even without any hype surrounding his return, Rashford has still managed to disappoint. In a strange way, it's one of the few consistent aspects of his second United chapter.
Secret World Cup Injury
Context is everything when assessing a soccer player. Like the invisible paddling of a swan beneath the water's surface, much of what shapes a player's performance happens away from the public eye.
Unknown to most fans, Rashford has been managing a hip injury dating back to the World Cup, according to Sky News. The winger continues to undergo daily treatment for the problem, which forced him to withdraw from the autumn international fixtures. Since those games, Rashford has been given just one minute of Premier League action.
"He had the slight injury where he had to pull out of England, and we've managed that a little bit," Carrick sheepishly admitted.
For a player whose strengths are so heavily rooted in his physical attributes — particularly his ability to outpace and overpower defenders — any injury can prove damaging, whether through its direct physical effects or the mental burden of not fully trusting your own body.
Rashford Is a Symptom Rather Than the Cause
Rashford may still be waiting for his first direct contribution, but his teammates haven't exactly been tearing the league apart either. Bryan Mbeumo is the only United player to have scored in more than one Premier League game so far, while Amad Diallo is also still searching for his first meaningful impact.
Benjamin Šeško has been sidelined by injury and Matheus Cunha has joined Rashford on the bench following Carrick's most recent tactical adjustments. The most glaring underperformance, however, has been that of Bruno Fernandes.
Since bagging a hat-trick against newly promoted Ipswich, Fernandes's only goal or assist has come against a Sabah FK side coached by a former Manchester United Soccer Schools manager. Without the engine of the attack firing, the rest of the squad will inevitably struggle. Fernandes created a remarkable 136 chances last season — 89 more than any other United player. This campaign, he has created just three more than Rashford himself.
In areas where Rashford depends on the output and quality of those around him, there has been a noticeable decline. His underlying numbers in front of goal have clearly dropped compared to his productive spell at Barcelona. Yet when it comes to driving directly at defenses, the forward still ranks among the most dangerous ball carriers in the league. Rashford is a symptom, not the root cause, of United's broader struggles.
Dumb Luck
"Marcus has done a lot of good things," Carrick has been eager to point out, and not without reason.
Rashford has registered 17 shots across all competitions, accumulating an xG of 1.92. Under normal circumstances, he would likely have two goals to his name rather than none. Only three Premier League players have attempted more shots than Rashford this season without finding the net.
"He's doing some good things, and it's not quite getting that break, putting himself in good positions and having some good opportunities," Carrick insisted. "He had the one the other night where maybe he'd feel he could have done better with. He's in there to make a difference.
"If you keep doing the right things, you get the rewards in the end. As long as he keeps doing that, he'll be O.K."
Luck is a vastly underappreciated element of this sport. Rashford won't always be denied by a brilliant instinctive save from a goalkeeper in inspired form, and his teammates will (in all likelihood) eventually start converting the opportunities he helps create.
Fortunately for those at Old Trafford, this is precisely the kind of adversity Rashford thrives on. "Every single time I've been down, physically or mentally," he once reflected, "I always feel like that's when I turn it around and play my best football."