Chelsea legend Tony Cascarino has insisted that Jose Mourinho has hampered Marcus Rashford's development since taking over as Manchester United manager.
The 18-year-old stood out for the Red Devils in an otherwise underwhelming campaign last time out, scoring eight goals in 18 games after bursting onto the scene under Louis van Gaal.
Rashford impressed in a centre-forward role in the final third of the 2015-16 season, but Mourinho has largely shunted him out on the flank this term to accommodate summer signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is yet to be given a rest.
Cascarino believes Mourinho has badly handled the situation, claiming that the England international's career is currently stagnating as a result of being overlooked in his favoured position up top.
"I don't like the way he's handled Marcus Rashford," he told talkSPORT. "I just thought, start of the season, you bring Zlatan in, whatever you do get the kid in alongside him. Just give him a chance to show how good he can be.
"I've seen Rashford deteriorate quite a lot this year, and there is no other reason because he has been taken out of the firing line. Last year he was absolutely sensational at the end of the season for United and now I am looking at a young lad that has been given a new deal, but been taken out of the firing line, not playing much football now.
"He came on for a sub yesterday [for England against Spain], albeit not for a long time but he looked completely out of sorts."
Rashford, who has played eight times in the Premier League this term, is in line to feature against Arsenal this weekend at Old Trafford - the same fixture that saw him rise to stardom earlier this year.
Daniel Lewis
