Marcus Rashford should start for Manchester United against Ipswich Town after his lively cameo in Saturday's heavy defeat at Hull City, with Michael Carrick urged to make the bold call.
The Red Devils were both tactically outwitted and physically overpowered on Humberside, where Hull's set-piece preparation proved highly effective and Oli McBurnie provided the attacking spearhead United were missing. The travelling supporters also faced disruption after trains from Hull to Manchester were cancelled, adding insult to injury on a difficult afternoon.
When Bruno Fernandes is attempting speculative efforts from 30 yards out and Harry Maguire is launching forward runs to inject intensity, it is clear something has gone wrong. Despite Carrick's eagerness to highlight "a lot of good things" from his side, genuine bright spots were hard to identify.
Rashford's impact off the bench
Rashford's return to competitive action did provide a faint ray of hope. The former Barcelona loanee was introduced at the break following a sluggish first-half display, replacing Patrick Dorgu. Carrick defended the decision by explaining he was "trying to do something a little bit different", though Rashford undeniably injected greater urgency into United's play.
Not only did Rashford appear considerably more dangerous than Dorgu, but his combination play with Luke Shaw represented United's finest opportunity of clawing their way back into the match. The pair forged an outstanding partnership down the left before Rashford was dropped from the squad by Ruben Amorim, and Saturday's performance suggested they had not been apart for 20 months.
Rashford can offer a different kind of threat to United's attack, but his capacity to unlock the best from Shaw going forward should not be underestimated.
Consistency the key under Carrick
There remains a possibility Rashford could be plying his trade away from Old Trafford before the transfer window shuts, yet one senses nobody in the dressing room, Carrick included, wishes to see that happen. Wearing the iconic No.9 shirt, Rashford appears primed to stamp his authority back at his beloved hometown club.
A defining theme of Carrick's tenure has been consistency, both in United's displays and his handling of media duties, and consistency is precisely what Rashford has so disappointingly lacked throughout his career. Under Carrick there is genuine optimism that he can rediscover his finest form.
The showdown with Ipswich this weekend poses a stern examination for Carrick in only United's second fixture of the season. Nobody is hitting the panic button just yet, but Carrick is more aware than most that you are never more than a couple of results away from a crisis at United.
Starting spot on the horizon
A defeat on Sunday would make for grim viewing when so many predicted United would claim maximum points from their opening two matches. Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martinez will be pushing for a starting berth with another week of training behind them following their belated return after the World Cup, but Rashford has now accumulated more minutes since his comeback than both players.
The time has come for Carrick to hand him a place in the starting line-up. United require a swift and positive start on Sunday in front of their home supporters following the dismal loss at Hull. If the reception Rashford garnered from the travelling fans on Saturday is any indication, he will be greeted back at Old Trafford with tremendous warmth against Ipswich.
That could prove the spark United so desperately need in a match they simply cannot afford to lose. Thirteen months on from his move to Barcelona and with his No.10 jersey passed on to Matheus Cunha, the only prospect of Rashford ever appearing at Old Trafford again seemed to be in the strip of an opposing side. On Sunday, he will walk back out in United's red, wearing the No.9, and he could well find himself in the starting line-up.
