‘He’s not a youngster anymore’: Alan Shearer slams Marcus Rashford for his positioning in 2-1 defeat by Brighton… with Man United striker having ‘extra training sessions’ under a club legend

Premier League legend Alan Shearer has criticised Marcus Rashford for his poor positioning and movement during Manchester United‘s 2-1 defeat at Brighton on Saturday.

Rashford featured for 65 minutes at the AMEX Stadium and failed to register a single shot.

It was a similar story in United’s first league game of the season, where Rashford failed to get a shot away against Fulham, despite playing the full 90 minutes.

According to The Sun, Rashford has been having extra sessions with club legend Ruud van Nistelrooy, who joined United’s coaching staff in July.

Van Nistelrooy – who scored 150 goals for United in 219 games between 2001 and 2006 – has apparently been focusing on trying to improve Rashford’s back post awareness and his runs across the box. 

Alan Shearer was critical of Rashford during his analysis on Match of the Day on Saturday

He was subbed off by manager Erik ten Hag on 65 minutes after failing to record a single shot

But Shearer highlighted another area that seemingly needs significant improvement in Rashford’s game.

Analysing Saturday’s action on BBC Match of the Day, Shearer took issue with Rashford for getting caught offside twice against Brighton.

Former Newcastle and Blackburn striker Shearer began a short rant by highlighting that United’s scored just 57 goals in the Premier League last season – fewer than any other team in the top half.

He said: ‘Ruud van Nistelrooy’s been brought into there and he’s going to have to work his magic somehow.

‘I know they have got [Rasmus] Hojlund out injured but when he comes in he’s going to have to improve that because, on today’s evidence and in the game against Fulham, it’s not been anywhere near good enough.’

Gary Lineker – like Shearer was a prolific striker and ex-England captain – tried to defend Rashford over his multiple offside offences.

‘The only thing I would say in Rashford’s defence is at least he is looking to try and make runs,’ Lineker contributed.

However, Shearer hit back: ‘Yeah, but he’s not a youngster anymore. He has to understand the position and look across the pitch when you can see the whole of it, you shouldn’t be offside then.’

Rashford has been hoping to put last season’s struggles behind him after a poor campaign

Former goal machine Ruud van Nistelrooy watched Saturday’s game from the United dugout

Rashford and van Nistelrooy have reportedly been working together a lot on the training pitch

Shearer scored 260 Premier League goals in 441 games between 1992 and 2006. The 54-year-old is still the competition’s all-time leading scorer.

Meanwhile, Rashford has netted 83 times in 274 top-flight outings for United.

Rashford has twice scored as many as 17 goals in a Premier League season – in 2019-20 and again in 2022-23.

But he only hit the net seven times in 33 league matches last season.

Next up for United is a home game against Liverpool on September 1.