Newcastle have Rashford 2.0 in Howe’s “frightening” talent

It was perhaps almost inevitable that, one way or another, Marcus Rashford would dominate the headlines amid his return to England this week. Unfortunately for those of a Newcastle United persuasion, the 27-year-old ultimately proved the deciding factor in Thursday’s 2-1 defeat.

It had initially been a bright start from the Magpies, with Anthony Gordon notably failing to make the most of a gilt-edged chance in the early stages, while Nick Pope rarely looked threatened at the opposite end.

As for Rashford, the man who signed for Barcelona on loan this summer from Manchester United was largely kept at bay by his former international colleague, Kieran Trippier, enduring a frustrating first-half down the left flank.

A quiet start to life with the LaLiga giants was then ignited as the Carrington graduate expertly headed home from Jules Kounde’s cross. His second came just minutes later, a truly astonishing rifled effort into the roof of the net.

Free from the shackles of Old Trafford, Rashford is now finding his groove for the Catalan outfit, as Eddie Howe’s side saw first-hand in midweek. As for those at St James’ Park, meanwhile, well they have their own attacking talents to be excited by…

How Rashford compares to Gordon

If Thomas Tuchel’s early England tenure is anything to go by, the German tactician is set to decide between Rashford and Gordon to operate as his starting option down the left flank, with the two men starting a game apiece during the recent international break.

Thursday night might suggest otherwise, although it is perhaps the Newcastle man who has the edge in that tussle at present, following a particularly lively display in the 5-0 thrashing of Serbia in Belgrade.

Described as simply “outstanding” by pundit Micah Richards on the night, the 24-year-old was a constant threat down the left, notably recording a 95% pass accuracy, while providing one key pass, as per Sofascore.

Against a far weaker Andorra side just a few days earlier, by contrast, Rashford was far less effective, losing the ball 13 times from just 44 touches, while enjoying a pass accuracy rate of just 77%.

As Tuchel himself suggested, the high-profile forward had “good moments”, yet “couldn’t finish them with a clinical assist”.

Again, Rashford may have edged it during the midweek Champions League meeting, although Gordon has enjoyed a far more impressive last few seasons at club level.

Indeed, since the start of 2023/24, the ex-Everton man has registered 45 goals and assists in 93 games in all competitions for the Tynesiders, as per Transfermarkt.

Rashford, meanwhile, has recorded just 37 goals and assists in 89 games in that time, across his stints at Man United, Aston Villa and now at Barcelona.

It will then remain an intriguing debate heading into next year’s World Cup, although back at St James’, Newcastle could have their own Rashford figure who’s waiting to catch fire.

Newcastle may have their own Marcus Rashford

For the Red Devils, the repeated theme has been for their exiled stars to go on to blossom elsewhere. Rashford is finding form in Catalonia. Rasmus Hojlund netted on his first start for Napoli. Scott McTominay is now a Ballon d’Or nominee, following his own heroics in Naples last term.

There appears to be a freedom that comes with escaping the chaos at the Theatre of Dreams, a fact that new Newcastle man Anthony Elanga knows more than most, having simply soared since his own departure from the struggling Manchester side.

Like Rashford, the Sweden star had burst onto the scene in his teenage years, with former Man United defender Paul Parker even likening him to a “young Ryan Giggs” amid his early rise.

The interim appointment of Ralf Rangnick proved particularly crucial, with Elanga making 27 first-team appearances in 2021/22, including netting a fine late equaliser away to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last-16.

Unfortunately for the “frightening” talent – as described by The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell – the arrival of Erik ten Hag saw his stock plummet, with the Dutchman sanctioning the £15m sale of the academy graduate in the summer of 2023.

Two years on, the wing wizard is now a £55m player, and justifiably so. That is no marker of an inflated market – he has warranted that bumper price tag.

After recording just eight goals and assists in 55 games for the Red Devils, Elanga subsequently starred at Nottingham Forest, with 32 goal involvements in 82 games during his two-season stint at the City Ground.

A stunning solo goal against his former club last season showcased just what the Old Trafford outfit had been missing, with the Malmo-born sensation carrying the ball from his own box at breakneck speed, before duly converting.

While such brilliance is yet to be seen in a Newcastle shirt, with Elanga yet to get off the mark in terms of goals or assists, his physical attributes have certainly been witnessed in the early weeks of the season.

Indeed, the summer arrival came close to scoring early on during the opening weekend draw against Aston Villa, while having also been electric in the first half in midweek, teeing up Gordon for that early opening, only for the Englishman to swing and miss at the clever pullback.

Those early signs are certainly promising, with Elanga looking tailor-made for Howe’s relentless, high-press approach in the forward line.

Deemed to be a statistically similar player to Rashford in the Premier League last term, as per FBref, Elanga may well be following in his former teammate’s footsteps by reaching new heights away from the dark clouds of Man United.