Marcus Rashford is reborn under Erik ten Hag this season after it looked like he might leave in the summer.
Rashford’s representatives held talks with Paris St Germain over a possible glamour switch to the Ligue 1 giants and it seemed his days at Old Trafford were coming to an end.
But Rashford stayed and he is transformed this season under ten Hag in perhaps one of the Dutchman’s biggest successes so far at United.
Rashford, 24, has scored three goals and made two assists in his six Premier League games. Compare his red-hot form to last season when he managed to net just four times and contribute two assists.
Rashford’s form has put him back on Gareth Southgate’s radar when it looked like his chance of going to the World Cup in Qatar had gone.
Ten Hag claims he does not know what were the issues in the past with Rashford and claims the key now is that he is smiling. The United boss says Rashford is enjoying his football again and is keen to keep improving to help the team.
“Once again, it’s difficult for me to talk about the past, but I see a happy Marcus Rashford,” he said.
“I see some phases in his game we could improve and we worked really hard the last two and a half months with him on different aspects. He really likes it and wants to transfer it to the pitch.
“It starts with happiness He comes in every day smiling and you want to transfer different aspects of your game and are happy it make more of a contribution to the team and its development.”
Ten Hag is relaxed about Rashford's contract situation, even though his deal expires next summer.
United have the option to extend it for another year and he says the club are "in control of the situation".
When asked if it was important United held on to Rashford, he said: "Of course."
He then added: "I don't think he will be out of contract [next summer]. United control the situation."
Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to start Thursday's Europa League clash at home to Real Sociedad after being dropped for United's last four games.
Ronaldo's last start came in the 4-0 debacle at Brentford and ten Hag says the Portugal star, who tried to force a move away from Old Trafford this summer, is fit enough to play from the beginning.
"He started against Brentford," he said. "He's ready to start, yeah."
