Erik ten Hag sets expectations for 'big guy' Marcus Rashford this season | OneFootball

Erik ten Hag believes Marcus Rashford will be vital for Manchester United this season after the forward netted two goals in their 7-0 win over Barnsley in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.

The Red Devils academy graduate has re-found some form at the start of the 2024/25 campaign, bagging his first club goal since March in United's 3-0 win over Southampton on Saturday, before scoring a brace on Tuesday night.

Rashford opened the scoring in the 16th minute to kick off United's journey to victory before netting another just before the hour mark.

United boss Ten Hag, who was full of praise for Rashford after the game, believes the 26-year-old can be a key player for the club once again moving forward.

United secured a huge win over Barnsley on Tuesday / Stu Forster/GettyImages

"The goals not only have to come from Marcus Rashford," he told reporters. "We need more goalscorers but I know from my first season here when he scores then it's [easier] for the team when you have a player in your squad who is a guarantee for goals.

"Then it can make the difference. You can do a lot of things very good between the boxes but football matches are decided in the box. I'm not only expecting this from Marcus, I expect it from others who are in the prime of their career but we also have some others who are high potentials, they are very hungry to score goals. But more important they want to win, to win games and win trophies.

"Confidence is a big part of it, it is not everything, there are also other parts but confidence is a big part and I think Rashford is a big guy. He's scored so many goals, he's one in the list of [current] United goalscorers, he is on top of it, so he is a big guy.

"But you are as good as your last game and every time you have to prove it. But I have even seen the biggest guys, the biggest football players, when they are not performing and when strikers are not scoring, they drop in confidence, it doesn't matter who."

United are set to travel to south London to face Crystal Palace on Saturday ahead of their opening Europa League tie with FC Twente.