We all love Marcus Rashford, don't we? Every time he puts on a Manchester United shirt, you just know he's going to try his absolute best because he's a fan.
He must be living his dream. A boy, who spent his entire career growing through the ranks at United, becomes a man with the same club. United owe a lot to him and he owes a lot to United.
24-year-old Rashford has only just returned from injury after remaining out for the start of the season. Since he's come back to the team, he's scored three goals in five matches - pretty good going for someone who was out for two months.
In fairness to Rashford, he's come back to the United squad as a different specimen. He's massively bulked in physique and it feels as if he's about to hit his prime years as a footballer.
Undoubtedly, he was a miss to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Why? Well, do you remember how United were lining-up when Rashford was out? Solskjaer opted for his usual 4-2-3-1, but he kept on changing who would play on the left-hand channel. One minute, it was Paul Pogba and the next, it was Jadon Sancho, even Daniel James was playing there before he was sold to Leeds United.
Although Sancho is a similar player to Rashford, it felt as if United were missing someone who was direct and could take on a player. Yes, Sancho offers that, but Solskjaer hasn't exactly been playing him a lot this season.
Rashford has gone through loads of stages in his career pathway so far. When he broke into the United team in 2016, he was often used as a striker. However, as time progressed, people realised his best position was out wide.
It was the 2019/20 season where Rashford started to make a name for himself. He got 22 goals in all competitions, predominantly playing as Solskjaer's left-winger.
Think about his attributes. He's got pace, a bit of trickery about him and can shoot from close and long-range distances. He isn't a poacher... He's a showboater and United should count their blessings they have him in the squad. Every club in Europe would want a bit of Marcus Rashford.
Last season, he continued to show why he was best suited as a winger. For the first time in his senior career, he managed to get over 20 goals in two consecutive seasons, this time scoring 21 goals in all competitions.
We must remember that Rashford lined up for Solskjaer on the left in a 4-2-3-1 formation, which allows you to play wingers. However, if you've been watching United recently, you'd know how open they've been when deploying this system.
United have conceded 23 goals in all competitions this season, only just behind Norwich and Leicester City.
So, can Solskjaer fit Rashford into a three-at-the-back system? Not in the 3-5-2/3-4-1-2 they've been playing recently.
Rashford started up front alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in United's draw against Atalanta and he was hardly noticeable in the game. The England international wasn't as effective and ghosted for large periods of the match. Clearly, it emphasised that his best position was as a winger.
The problem for Solskjaer though is that I think he has to start Rashford in the Manchester derby when you consider his goal ratio against the 'big-six.' He's found the net on 20 occasions and four of those have come against City. He has to play the match.
In the last two meetings, United have tried to play on the counterattack, using a back-three system, and it's worked pretty well. So, we'll go back to this question again. Can Solskjaer fit Rashford into a three-at-the-back system?
Only in a 3-4-3 formation. But whether he goes with this remains to be seen because I do feel that Edinson Cavani has to play too. He was sensational against Spurs and was the catalyst for helping Ronaldo and the team press.
Solskjaer has some big decisions to make but whatever he chooses, he has to play Rashford.
Should Rashford start in the Manchester derby? Follow our United On My Mind writer Omar Garrick on Twitter to get involved in the discussion and give us your thoughts on the matter in the comments section below.
