Michael Carrick praised Marcus Rashford for training "fantastically well" in response to a question about whether he had expressed a desire to stay at Manchester United beyond the transfer deadline.
Rashford has been welcomed back to United after his season-long loan with Barcelona. United are understood to still be open to offers for Rashford at the business end of the summer transfer window, but it now looks increasingly likely that the 28-year-old will be reintegrated into the squad for the new campaign.
Rashford's return to training
Rashford made his first appearance for United since December 2024 in the final pre-season game of the summer against AC Milan last weekend. He is set to be included in the squad against Hull for the Reds' opening Premier League game on Saturday.
When Carrick was asked if Rashford had spoken to him about staying for the season, Carrick said: "It's been pretty obvious since Marcus came back training with Kobbie [Mainoo] and Licha [Martinez] pretty much in Dublin that he's come back fantastically well, you know.
"He's enjoying his football, he looks fit, he looks sharp, he looks strong, he looks ready to play football. So I've been delighted with him since he's came back."
Positional flexibility
Carrick was also asked whether he sees Rashford as an option down the middle this season. "Yeah, of course, he can play through the middle, he has done," he responded.
"I wouldn't say it's necessarily his number one position, but he can do that," he said. "And I think we've got forwards that give us that flexibility right across the front line that we've used all of them pretty much in slightly different roles.
"So I think for us to have that option is really good for the season, obviously."
Loan spell and contract situation
Rashford contributed 14 goals and 14 assists on loan at Barcelona last season, but the Catalan club opted against their £26million option to sign him in favour of signing Anthony Gordon in a £70m deal. The United academy graduate has two years remaining on his £325,000 per week contract.
