Robin van Persie hails "very special" Marcus Rashford

Former Manchester United striker Robin van Persie has branded Marcus Rashford "a very special player".

Rashford, 18, was playing youth-team football for Man United when Van Persie, who fired the Red Devils to the Premier League title in the 2012-13 campaign, represented the English giants.

Now looking from afar, the Fenerbahce forward has lavished praise on Rashford, who the Dutchman believes will have "a nice future" at Old Trafford.

"Marcus looks like a very special player to me. He has something about him," Van Persie told Man United's official website. "He's always playing with pace and good technique, always with his eyes focused on going straight to the goal. A very good player and he has a nice future ahead of him."

Rashford, who is currently with the England squad ahead of Saturday's 2018 World Cup qualifier with Malta, has scored 12 times in 27 first-team appearances for Man United since making his debut in February.