Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford lacks the 'killer instinct' to be a natural goal-scorer, according to former striker Michael Owen.
Owen has made the claim ahead of England’s upcoming UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers with Bulgaria and Kosovo, with Rashford, who has netted two goals so far this term for United, set to feature for the Three Lions.
Owen made a career for himself by being one of England’s best strikers of all-time, scoring 40 times for the Three Lions, which puts him fifth on the all-time list for his country.
But while Rashford is considered to be a future star for England and United, Owen, who spent three years at Old Trafford, has criticised the 21-year-old’s goal-scoring touch in front of goal.
Owen said: “I don’t think he is obsessed with goals. He is a better all-round player than me, he has a great touch and all round skill that I never had, but he hasn’t got the killer instinct that I had.
"I was just obsessed…but I don’t think scoring goals is what he goes to bed craving.
"Players like Robbie Fowler, Aguero or Harry Kane, these people who are obsessed with goals. I don’t think he is obsessed with goals."
Following Romelu Lukaku’s exit from Old Trafford this summer to join Inter Milan, Rashford is in a prime position to lead United’s attack this season.
While United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is backing the striker to be a focal point in the future, insisting he plans to educate him on how to develop an instinct to score more ‘scrappy’ goals, Owen is remaining sceptical about the Red Devils chief’s comments.
Owen continued: "I think you can definitely improve your finishing, but I don’t think you can improve your instinct and I don’t think you can improve the way you are made.
"I know Rashford was never a center-forward as a kid, he always wanted to play wide or as a No.10.
"I know his coaches at the Man United academy were always encouraging him to follow the ball in, get tap ins and get into the box, be a goalscorer.
"I was never really his desire, he was always outside the box, great touch and everything else which is fine."
Michael Owen: Reboot – My Life, My Time, published by Reach Sport, is on sale Thursday, September 5, in hardback, e-book and audiobook.
Buy the book here.
