Former Liverpool forward, Michael Owen has revealed that Manchester United won’t achieve the full potentials of Marcus Rashford if they continue to use him as a striker.
Rashford has been given the mandate to lead the Red Devils front line alongside Anthony Martial after the team sold Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan this summer.
However, he has failed to inspire the team since scoring a double in a 4-0 drubbing of Chelsea at their Premier League opener at Old Trafford.
The former England international insisted that Rashford could only deliver when used as a central midfielder or winger for United.
“I don’t think scoring goals is what he goes to bed craving,” said Owen. “I think it is an overall performance, chipping in with goals, assists, everything. He is a better all-round player than me. He has a great touch and all-round skill that I never had, but he hasn’t got the killer instinct that I had. I was just obsessed.
“Players like Robbie Fowler, Sergio Aguero or Harry Kane – these people who are obsessed with goals. I don’t think he is obsessed with goals.”
Speaking at the launch of his autobiography, ‘Reboot’, Owen said he does not believe natural finishing can be coached. “You can definitely improve your finishing, but I don’t think you can improve your instinct,” said Owen.
“I know Rashford was never a center-forward as a kid. He always wanted to play wide or as a number 10 and I know his coaches at the Man Utd academy were always encouraging him to follow the ball in, get tap-ins.
“He will always score a decent number of goals . . . but when you mention Aguero, that cold-blooded constantly thinking about goals, I don’t think (he has got that).”
