Marcus Rashford should take inspiration from Heung-Min Son's performance against Manchester City ahead of the Manchester derby on Wednesday night, according to Paul Merson.
Son was devastating for Spurs in the Champions League quarter-final against City, scoring three goals, and the South Korean's pace asked serious questions of Pep Guardiola's defensive line during City's 1-0 Premier League victory on Saturday.
United go into the derby on a run of six defeats in eight games and, after their 4-0 humiliation by Everton on Sunday, are un-fancied to harm City's bid for a maiden Premier League title defence.
Scott McTominay was the only United player to take credit from the defeat at Goodison Park, but Merson believes Rashford remains United's most potent attacking threat.
“Marcus Rashford is so quick and we saw how City’s back four didn’t like it when Son ran at them with pace," the former Arsenal midfielder told the Daily Star.
“Rashford is going to be United’s danger man in the derby. I don’t see how else they can hurt City. They need to get him running at defenders one-on-one.
“He might be the only one can stop them, because I can see City winning every game until the end of the season now."
Liverpool require City to slip up during their four-game run-in to be in with a chance of winning a first league title since 1990, but Merson does not envisage City misfiring between now and the end of the campaign.
“It’s so tight at the top between City and Liverpool that whoever drops any points from now on is probably going to miss out on the championship," he said.
David Moyes predicts where Manchester United will finish in Premier League table
Gary Neville explains why Manchester United relapse was always on the cards
“But City going out of the Champions League just makes it even more likely they will win the title because they have no other distractions now.
“They will be playing less games with no big midweek European matches to occupy them and they will be able to get more rest and stay fresher.
“Form goes out of the window in a derby, but unless Manchester United improve dramatically I can’t see them taking points off City. Rashford’s pace is the only thing that could trouble them.
Manchester United fans absolve Ole Gunnar Solskjaer of blame for club's current plight
Rio Ferdinand sends appropriate message to Manchester United players after Everton loss
“People might think that could help United. That they will have to respond and put up more of a fight. But they are a million miles off City for me.
“If City show up and play the way they have been for the last few weeks they will win the game. It’s all in their hands.
“City can change their team and it won’t get any weaker. That’s a massive luxury to have. And if they win this game the title is theirs to lose really. Liverpool have done well just to stay with them.”
