Marcus Rashford is not an ‘assassin’ like Man Utd greats Rooney and Solskjaer and not as natural as Lukaku, says Darren Bent
MARCUS RASHFORD does not have the killer instinct possessed by Romelu Lukaku and Wayne Rooney, according to Darren Bent.
The ex-Tottenham and England striker told TalkSport he is unsure whether Rashford has what it takes to cut it as centre-forward for Manchester United.
Lukaku left Old Trafford for Inter Milan in the summer leaving Rashford to shoulder the goal-scoring burden for the Red Devils.
Bent believes positional awareness can be taught.
But he doubts Ole Gunnar Solksjaer can teach natural killer instinct to Rashford – like the Norwegian and other United greats like Rooney – had during their time at the club.
Bent said: “Solskjaer did score a lot of goals himself so he knows the positions to take up to score goals.
“There’s certain things you can’t teach a striker, like anticipation.
“You just have the thought ‘the ball’s going to drop there and I’m going to take a chance.’
“For nine times it might not happen but you just keep getting in there and the one time it drops, you put it in the net.”
But Bent thinks the natural instinct to finish when in attacking positions is a thing you are born with.
He said: “I think you can’t teach that. With centre-forwards I believe it’s either in you or it’s not.
“Lukaku had it in him. I know he had a tough time towards the end at Man Utd but he’s a killer and he wants to score goals.
“You can see by the way he plays the game he wants to score goals.
“I just worry if Rashford wants to go and play centre-forward for Manchester United Football Club.
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“He’s at a club that are renowned for having very, very good centre-forwards, great centre-forwards.
“You look at Ruud van Nistelrooy, Solskjaer, Rooney, Andy Cole, Teddy Sheringham, these guys are all assassins, killers.
“I just wonder if will he score enough goals at Man Utd to warrant playing down the middle at such a high-profile football club.”