Asked about Rashford’s situation ahead of United’s game against Burnley, Ten Hag said: “I have a lot of sympathy for Rashy. Last year, he had a brilliant season, the best season in his career. He scored 30 goals. You see what he’s capable of. This season he didn’t give the performances and then people are very critical. I think we have to back him. Everyone should back him and push him to get back to the levels he was at last year.

“I think he needs support. We all know what he’s capable of. We all have to support but also to push him. He can do better than he is doing this year and we have seen that last year when he was really brilliant.”

Last month, Rashford’s mother warned him to be wary of negative influences around him – and revealed the personal heartbreak that has contributed to his recent struggles.

He was fined two weeks’ wages worth around £650,000 after a boozy night out in Belfast in January that led to him missing training and an FA Cup tie against Newport County. Earlier in the season, he was reprimanded by Ten Hag for going out until the early hours after his side’s 3-0 defeat by Manchester City when he had training that morning.

Melanie Maynard warned her son that not everyone around him may have honourable intentions.

“Marcus is human, so he will have ups and downs in his life like everyone else,” Maynard wrote in the Times.

“Marcus is in a very good place, he will never let anyone down. But you always need to be wary of people’s intentions around you – sometimes people around you can be wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing.”

Maynard also revealed how Rashford struggled to come to terms with the loss of his cousin Nathan last year, which followed the death of “very good family friend”, Garf, in 2022.

Rashford scored 30 goals for United last season before signing a new five-year contract. He missed the 4-2 win over Sheffield United in midweek through injury.