Marcus Rashford has been sent another message about his body language (Image: Getty)
Paul Gascoigne says Marcus Rashford is playing with a smile on his face again and thinks the forward could be on the cusp of a redemption arc. Since joining Aston Villa on loan from Manchester United in January, Rashford has looked revitalised, despite failing to find the net in nine appearances.
The 27-year-old appears sharper, more engaged, and - according to England legend Gascoigne - much happier following his departure from Old Trafford after a fallout with United manager Ruben Amorim. Goals may have eluded him, but Rashford has provided four assists under Unai Emery, helping Villa secure six wins in nine matches. His impressive form also earned him a recall to the England setup, nearly a year after being left out of the Three Lions' Euro 2024 squad. "He's playing well," Gascoigne told Poker Scout. "His attitude is just wanting to play football, and he seems like he's playing with a smile on his face.
"He seems to be all right at Aston Villa," the 57-year-old former Tottenham and Newcastle midfielder added. "Aston Villa is a magnificent club and maybe he’s just got to be happy playing. Football's his life and change of scenery and different fans, but he seems to be doing all right. I like him as a player."
Gascoigne isn't the first person to notice a change in Rashford's body language - which was often scrutinised during his United tenure. Last month, former Red Devils goalkeeper Ben Foster said the forward "looks happier", while Jamie Redknapp said he looked like he was "loving every second" of being at Villa.
"It's just incredible, this [his bright start at Villa] is exactly what he needed to do," Redknapp said on Sky Sports following Villa's 2-1 win over Chelsea in February, where Rashford set up both goals. "He needed to get back playing... and you have got to enjoy it. If you can't enjoy it, you're in the wrong sport. And that's how it looked for such a long time.
Rashford returned to the England setup last week (Image: Getty)
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"Right now, he looks like he's loving every second of it," Redknapp added. "He looks like he's involved, he's showing enthusiasm. All the things that were thrown at him when he was at Manchester United, he's now doing the opposite. He's got sweat on his face and he isn't jogging around looking like he doesn't want to be there. He looks like he wants to be in that claret and blue shirt."
His strong start at Villa Park suggests that Rashford was right to sever ties - albeit temporarily - with boyhood club United, where he'd spent the entiritety of his club career prior to his January exit. His form dipped significantly after his 30-goal haul during the 2022/23 season, and with his relationship with Amorim on the rocks, his long-term future at Old Trafford looks perilously uncertain.
Villa have the chance to make Rashford's move permanent due to a £40million buy option included in the loan deal, but whether the club activates it is another question. It's understood club chiefs have been impressed with the player, but want to wait until the end of the season before making a decision.
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Marcus Rashford's Man Utd future is uncertain following his falling out with Ruben Amorim (Image: Getty)
Salary demands will also have to be factored in. Rashford is currently earning £300,000 per week at United, which is roughly double what Villa's highest-paid players are making, and it isn't known if, or to what degree, he'd be willing to take a wage cut.
The Manchester native earned just one England cap in 2024 and missed out on Gareth Southgate's Euro squad - the first major tournament he had failed to make since his international debut in 2016. However, after being recalled by new manager Thomas Tuchel this month, he started back-to-back England matches for the first time since 2023, helping the Three Lions secure victories over Albania and Latvia.
