Marcus Rashford’s lack of form has created dressing room headache for Michael Carrick

Marcus Rashford doesn’t seem to have the trust of Michael Carrick and his current form is causing an issue for the under-pressure Manchester United boss. That’s the view of talkSPORT’s chief football correspondent Alex Crook, who has shared his thoughts on the forward after he was an unused substitute in United’s 1-1 draw with Leeds . The Red Devils ‘ worst ever start to a Premier League season continued on Sunday, as their winless run extended to six games. It piles the pressure on boss Carrick , whose side have won just once in the league – a 5-2 victory against Ipswich in their second game – and sit just two points above the bottom three in 13th. As for Rashford , he has struggled to have a positive impact since returning to Old Trafford following his loan spell at Barcelona . Rashford has been struggling with a hip injury suffered during the World Cup, meaning he needs regular treatment to ensure he is available for selection. Despite the England forward being yet to register a goal contribution this term, having started six of his eight games this season, United sources insist Carrick is still backing his player. The manager was heavily consulted before the club decided to bring him back from Barcelona and reintegrate him into the first team. Rashford return questioned With Rashford having little influence as United continue to struggle, United fan Crook has claimed his return is only proving a hindrance. An academy graduate, Rashford quickly established himself as one of England’s brightest young talents after bursting onto the scene as an 18-year-old. He remained a key player for United in the years that followed, and signed a five-year deal worth in excess of £325,000-per-week in 2023 after a 30-goal season, which he remains under contract now. However, after two loan spells away at Aston Villa and Barcelona, Crook told talkSPORT Breakfast: “I think he’s probably peaked. “That season, when he scored so many goals under Erik ten Hag [30 in 2022/23 term], that convinced them to give him this huge, big-money contract, which has been a real problem, I think, for the football club. “And since he came back in, I was hoping that maybe his spell away at Barcelona would have sparked a new lease of life out of Marcus Rashford, but we haven’t seen it, in all honesty. “And I think Michael Carrick was absolutely right to put him on the bench yesterday, and the fact he didn’t bring him on at the end of the game when United are short of goals and chasing a winner probably tells you he doesn’t trust him at this moment in time.” United finished an impressive third in the Premier League last season, with Bryan Mbeumo , Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha all hitting double figures in league goals. Rashford’s return was expected to boost their attacking threat having registered 14 goals and 15 assists on loan at Barcelona in 2025/26. However, with United’s forward line struggling to deliver the goods this term, Crook believes Rashford’s return has upset the squad -particularly Cunha, who has scored just once so far. He continued: “I think his return has been a problem, I think there’s probably some unhappy players in that dressing room that he’s earning so much money. “I think it’s been an issue for Matheus Cunha, because it’s his place that he took and you can see that Cunha is sulking a little bit. “And there was such a good balance at the top end of the pitch last season with Cunha and Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes , Amad Diallo , Sesko when he was fit. “But Marcus Rashford, I think, not on a personal level, but just because those players feel aggrieved, I think he’s upset the balance of the attack and isn’t putting the numbers on the board at the moment to justify that huge salary.”