Erik ten Hag backs Man United star Marcus Rashford to hit top form again and overcome early-season slump if he remains patient and ‘focused’

• Rashford has endured a difficult start to the campaign for Manchester United
• The 25-year-old England star has only scored once and made one assist so far
• Mail Sport’s new WhatsApp Channel: Get the breaking news and exclusives here 

Erik ten Hag has backed Marcus Rashford to overcome his early-season slump if he keeps the ‘right focus’.

Rashford was Manchester United’s 30-goal top scorer last season but has contributed just one goal and one assist in eight games so far this term.

The 25-year-old signed a new £300,000-a-week contract in the summer but he has struggled to gel with new £72million striker Rasmus Hojlund. Rashford has come under criticism for his poor finishing and not choosing the right option on occasions.

However, Ten Hag believes it’s only a matter of time before the player hits top form again if he remains patient and focussed.

‘The facts are he is not scoring in this moment, but he had opportunities,’ said the United boss. ‘He had five or six against Brighton and if he works hard, if he invests, every day, go with the right focus and if the team around him supply and help him and support him with movement then it will come.

Marcus Rashford has contributed just one goal and one assist in eight games so far this term

United boss Erik ten Hag has backed Rashford to overcome his difficulties in front of goal

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‘Marcus Rashford is a player who is capable of scoring goals in every game and when he comes in the right spot, he will score.’

Meanwhile, Ten Hag insists he still has faith in the VAR system despite the errors made in the games Tottenham-Liverpool and Nottingham Forest-Brentford games over the weekend.

United have been on the end of two VAR controversies this season after Christian Romero wasn’t penalised for handball in the defeat at Tottenham, and Alejandro Garnacho had a late goal ruled out at Arsenal two weeks later.

‘I’m not so often giving comment on refereeing because they do what they have to do,’ said Ten Hag. ‘The standards have to be high, it’s a part of the game.

‘This season, I mentioned one time it was really in our disadvantage at that moment. We can expect, teams can expect, fans can expect it has to be a high standard and has to be because it’s the Premier League.

‘I’m sure they do what they can. They are very professional, so they will give their best and I trust them.’

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