Marcus Rashford endured a rather frustrating campaign with Manchester United this season.
Typified by his unproductive performance in the FA Cup final defeat by Chelsea, the gifted attacker only managed to make 17 Premier League starts under Jose Mourinho, with his return of seven league goals only two better than his tally from when he burst on the scene as an explosive 18-year-old late in the 2015/16 season.
His perceived failure to win Mourinho’s trust meant his United campaign was one of stagnation rather than development, but despite not being afforded a sustained run of starts at Old Trafford Rashford still managed to be involved in 21 goals in all competitions.
With Belgium, Tunisia and Panama all lying in wait, Rashford’s ability to commit players and break through defensive lines with his searing pace could prove crucial against three teams with various susceptibilities at the back.
Utilised predominantly on the left wing by Mourinho this season, Rashford completed 45 dribbles in England’s top tier this season, a tally only bettered by Bournemouth’s Lewis Cook (50) and Watford’s Richarlison (47) among players aged 21 and under.
His direct running at opposing defenders could prove invaluable against each of England’s group opponents: Belgium are not blessed with the most competent wing-backs - Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco is often asked to play on the left side of defence - Panama are often partial to a high pressing system which does not exactly sit well with their immobile centre-halves, while Tunisia boss Nail Maaloul has concerns over his goalkeeping and central defensive options.
Rashford possesses the attributes needed to exploit those defensive weaknesses, though he faces a real fight for a place in Southgate’s starting line-up with Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane providing stiff competition for the two central attacking spots. A left-wing role may not be on the cards either due to England boss Gareth Southgate’s preference to utilise a 3-5-2 formation.
GettyBut despite those concerns he will presumably be allowed at least some kind of platform to flourish by Southgate, whose squad is not exactly brimming with capable left-sided attackers.
The former Middlesbrough and England Under-21 boss understandably held concerns over the United starlet’s lack of game-time earlier this year - he had to wait until March for his first Premier League start of 2018 and duly made up for lost time by scoring twice in a crucial 2-1 win over Liverpool - but Southgate certainly isn’t worried about Rashford himself, judging by the praise he lavished upon him a few months ago.
"It's amazing really that he's been a player who's been able to dip under the radar as we think so much of him, not only his ability, but his mentality and his maturity,” Southgate said.
"He's a very exciting player, but very grounded, wants to improve all the time. For me he's going to be a top player. He has all the attributes of the top players I've worked with, but he's still only 20.”
Whether Southgate decides to allow Rashford to utilise those attributes in Russia remains to be seen.