Marcus Rashford has seen major turbulence in recent years of his career after an initial feud with Ruben Amorim saw the forward depart on loan from Manchester United to Aston Villa, then Barcelona for a combined 18 months.

These loans did a fair deal of good for Rashford as he reclaimed his place in the England international set-up, securing a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Rashford has since returned to Old Trafford as a familiar face, with Michael Carrick now steering the ship.

Rashford has looked like his old self again with a standout performance against Everton, making the left wing his own again and showing glimpses of his 2023 performances. With a feisty Manchester Derby only hours away, Rashford will be looking to deliver once again.

After ten immensely successful years at Manchester City, Pep Guardiola revealed his stance on Rashford, particularly after his tremendous 30-goal season in 2022/23 under Erik ten Hag as United finished third in the Premier League and lifted the Carabao Cup.

According to reports from Jason Burt for The Telegraph, Pep Guardiola was a huge admirer of Rashford during 2023, with the forward at the heart of almost every Manchester United goal, including a goal in United's 2-1 derby win at Old Trafford.

He described Rashford as having an extremely high "ceiling" with elite physicality and technical ability. City even made an enquiry prior to Rashford signing a new contract in the summer of 2023, as the possibility of him leaving was on the table, with a move to Paris Saint-Germain reportedly materialising.

The report also claimed that Guardiola wanted Rashford as a striker, which he has not played regularly since his early days at Old Trafford. 

Now at 28 years old, Rashford has returned to the squad and settled in nicely, claiming the left wing position in the Premier League over the likes of Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha.

His future remains uncertain, as a permanent move never materialised in the summer, but Carrick seems to have a strong relationship with the forward and has happily welcomed him home to Old Trafford.

Despite a good individual record against Manchester City, this is a completely new side with an entirely new midfield and a new manager in the form of Enzo Maresca. Previous outings have seen Manchester United get by through counter-attacking football, which suits Rashford's playing style.

Despite the strong performances of Dorgu and Cunha against Sabah in the Champions League, Rashford has to be the favourite after his performance against Everton, constantly causing problems for his fullback.

With Benjamin Sesko presumably set to start as well, Rashford's crossing ability has to be a strong asset with Sesko's presence in the air and Rashford's experience alongside Robert Lewandowski last season.

Overall, a huge performance is needed against City, with United's start to the season not being what it should be. Rashford could be the difference-maker against City, with fans still waiting for that first goal since his return.