Harry Maguire has seen enough of Manchester United’s storms to recognise when a cloud is starting to lift. On Saturday, as Marcus Rashford tore into Ipswich at Old Trafford, the centre-back sensed something important: this might just be the start of Rashford’s second act at his boyhood club.
The 28-year-old started his first Premier League game for United in 21 months in the 5-2 win, and played like a man intent on reclaiming lost ground. Sharp, direct, constantly on the shoulder, he was one of United’s most dangerous outlets all afternoon.
Not long ago, it looked over for him here.
Rashford’s relationship with former manager Ruben Amorim broke down, his United future pushed towards the exit door. A loan to Aston Villa, then another to Barcelona, followed. At Camp Nou he did enough to tempt Barca into considering a permanent move, with a £26m clause on the table. They walked away. The door back to Old Trafford creaked open again.
Now, with the transfer window closing on Tuesday night, that door looks set to stay open. Rashford, once seemingly destined to move on, is instead poised to stay where it all began.
“He’s a great talent,” said Maguire. “He’s always a threat.
“If Marcus wants to be here, wants to work, wants to improve and help the team, of course we’re willing to have him in the team.
“He could still do a lot more and I think he’ll say he can do more but if we keep him fit, we keep him happy, he keeps driven and hungry, he’s a great asset to have.”
The words carry weight. Maguire knows exactly what it feels like to be written off in this stadium.
Rashford has lived under a cloud for years now, the criticism stretching back to Erik ten Hag’s tenure. Pundits and supporters have questioned his work-rate, his commitment, even whether he still enjoys playing football. Every off-day became a referendum on his character.
The loans changed something. Under Unai Emery at Villa and Hansi Flick at Barcelona, Rashford rediscovered the basics: pressing, running, responsibility without the ball. Away from Old Trafford’s microscope, he looked lighter, freer. That education now feeds into a United side under a head coach, Michael Carrick, who knows him as well as anyone in the building.
“You’ve got to remember Marcus has had a wonderful career for this club,” Maguire said.
“But when you play at this club for numerous years, there’s going to be bad seasons, and when the bad seasons come everyone piles on you. That’s part and parcel of playing for this club.
“As a club, we haven’t been perfect from top to bottom. We haven’t been challenging at the top end. So, Marcus has been part of a rough ride for Manchester United.
“When that happens, players get dug out. I’ve been through it.”
Maguire’s own story underlines the point. Stripped of the captaincy and his starting place under Ten Hag, he looked certain to leave at one stage. He stayed, fought his way back, and now speaks as someone who has survived the full blast of United’s scrutiny.
“[Rashford’s] come back in, really fit and sharp and we’re excited to have him,” he added.
Carrick has described Rashford as feeling like a new signing, and the comparison fits. He is a familiar face carrying a very different energy, a player with scars but also with something to prove. For a squad that has lacked consistent firepower and personality in attack, his revival would change the entire complexion of United’s season.
Rashford is not the only one Carrick is trying to rebuild.
Kobbie Mainoo, so often overlooked by Amorim, has already felt the benefit of the new manager’s faith. Carrick rejuvenated the midfielder last season; now he must lift him again after England boss Thomas Tuchel left him unused at the World Cup, a bruising experience for a young player tipped to dominate midfields for years.
Mainoo started his first game of the season against Ipswich and grew into the contest after United fell behind. Where others rushed, he settled. Where the game became stretched, he tightened his grip.
“I thought he was brilliant,” said Maguire.
“To say he hasn’t had many minutes in pre-season, he was magnificent.
“His work without the ball has improved so much since Michael’s been in. He’s becoming a real monster in there, wins a lot of second balls and a lot of duels.
“The thing is he’s so young. If we want him to play for this club for another 10 years, there’s going to be times where he’s going to go through a patch like I spoke about with Rashy and myself.
“But that’s part and parcel. He’s really level-headed, really composed and has great belief in his ability.
“He’s going to be a magnificent player for this club for many years.”
Between Rashford and Mainoo you can see the two timelines United are trying to stitch together: the rediscovery of a homegrown star who has lost his way, and the careful shaping of a prodigy who has barely begun.
For once, Old Trafford’s noise is not about who might be leaving, but who might finally be ready to lead.
