Marcus Rashford tipped for Man Utd return after 'damaging' Barcelona rumours

Louis Saha reckons the chatter surrounding Marcus Rashford's sluggish beginning at Barcelona is 'extremely damaging' after his Manchester United departure.

The 27-year-old, who departed Old Trafford on loan during the summer, is eager to revitalise his career after a disappointing temporary stint at Aston Villa last term.

In Spain, he suffered a lacklustre opening, managing neither goals nor assists across his initial three La Liga outings, fuelling whispers of a potential January return to Manchester.

Speaking to Flashscore, who provide the latest bookmaker offers, Saha warned it could prove harmful for the player, who remains determined to silence his doubters.

"It would be extremely damaging for Marcus Rashford if Barcelona ended his loan," he said. "Even the talks, the rumours are really bad already. The thing is that we know that he's back in the England squad, he has appreciation from people who know football and understand that there is a big World Cup coming soon.

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"So I wish him the best. That's for sure that he needs to play, maybe better to shut down all these rumours coming from Barcelona. There is a moment where I see the rush for maybe sometimes from the frustrated side.

"There is a moment that he has to take control back of his career. Yes, you could find some excuses because things happened in Manchester and so on. But at some point you have to look at the mirror and there will be something that you are not doing and that's it.

"Whether you're happy or comfortable to discuss it, it's all well and good, but it's on the pitch where you need to really consolidate everything and ensure there is no room for doubt. There's a talented lad playing there, I don't think he's being questioned. There's something that Rashford needs to do."

Rashford notched up an assist in Barcelona's 6-0 thrashing of Valencia last weekend, with Saha adding: "It's a new career. It's a new environment. It's a new league, a new language.

"So there are many things you have to adapt to and people must understand that. Perhaps the journalists are spreading these kinds of rumours, we have to wait and see what the manager thinks about him. And that's it.

"But he has to be strong, these types of things will come. People want him to be at the very bottom. This is where they can criticise. But I'm confident that Rashford is going to score goals, he's going to assist and hopefully he'll be in the England squad and perform there as well."

The Spanish heavyweights have the option to make Rashford's move permanent next summer.