Marcus Rashford scored the winner for Man Utd vs West Ham (Photo: Getty)
Gary Neville has heaped praise on Marcus Rashford after the Manchester United star scored the winner against West Ham on Sunday.
Rashford’s first-half header was enough for United to claim all three points at Old Trafford and move up to fifth in the Premier League table.
It was the the forward’s 100th goal for the Red Devils, achieved just a day before his 25th birthday.
After the game, Rashford spoke about how his mentality had drastically improved from last season, where the England international struggled for form and fitness and was linked with a move away from his boyhood club.
United legend Neville said the difference was night and day, and added that manager Erik ten Hag had ‘absolutely’ changed Rashford for the better and was now an entirely different player.
‘It is stark to hear Rashford say, “I wasn’t in the right headspace going into a match”,’ Neville told Sky Sports after awarding the forward the player of the match award.
‘There’s no doubt there was too much being put into his head off the pitch. Too much. Sometimes you have to simplify your life.
‘He’s doing so much good off the pitch, it’s incredible what he’s achieving but there comes a point where your bread and butter is your football and I suspect people off the pitch who are close to him, who are probably just pulling him away a little bit from his core, which is his football.
‘That’s where he’s talking about his head space. For me he’s got that back.
‘There were people that thought he’d have to move away from Man Utd. I thought that would be a shame and hoped that the moment would come back where you’d seem him confident again.’
Rashford has been one of, if not the standout player for Ten Hag’s United, scoring seven and assisting three in 15 games so far this season.
‘There were moments when he’s running with real power and strength and flow… but there were times last year where he’d get in that position and he was hesitant and he’d pass it back and take the easy option,’ Neville added.
‘There were also moments last year, when [Cristiano] Ronaldo was available, he’d pass it to him like he was subservient to him. I feel now he’s willing to take [responsibility] and then play him in when he needs to.’
MORE : Erik ten Hag responds after Pep Guardiola claims Manchester United are ‘finally coming back’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
‘I feel now he’s willing to take responsibility.’