Marcus Rashford chose the biggest stage, with England manager Thomas Tuchel in attendance, to remind the footballing world (not least Manchester United) of his qualities with a breathtaking double for Barcelona against Newcastle United.
They were his first goals since joining the Catalans on loan in the summer, capping an absorbing Champions League clash at St James’ Park and suggested Barca fans could be in for a treat if the 27-year-old continues his footballing renaissance.
How United could do with him, or for that matter Aston Villa, who had the forward on loan last season and have yet to score a Premier League goal without him this term.
The reaction was suitably ecstatic. Barca boss Hansi Flick says he did not hesitate in signing Rashford from Manchester United and hailed his striker after his heroics on Tyneside.
Rashford rose to head home smartly after 58 minutes and improved on that nine minutes later with a breathtaking strike from the edge of the area. Newcastle replied late through Anthony Gordon but the Catalans held on.
Flick said: ‘When we got this chance to sign Marcus, I said, “OK, we have to do it!” I told him, “I want you in my team”. For me, he is an outstanding player and an outstanding finisher. I am not surprised he did this.
Marcus Rashford scored twice to help Barcelona beat Newcastle 2-1 in the Champions League
Rashford second was a breathtaking strike from the edge of the Newcastle penalty area
He had earlier opened his Barcelona account with a fine header on his return to England
‘We always see this in training and we saw it today. It’s great to have him. These two goals will help a lot to get Marcus to the next step. These goals are unbelievable for him – two goals in England against Newcastle and for Barcelona, it will give him confidence.’
Rashford of course was delighted with his haul, saying: ‘It’s going good [in Spain], I am learning a lot as it is a new way of football, but I am enjoying it all and I think it is making me a better player.
‘It’s been an amazing experience. I’ve always been a huge admirer of Barcelona. Most people my age have watched them play from when we were younger.
‘It’s amazing football, amazing players and we just want to win as much as possible. I’m full of excitement. I’m very motivated, determined, I think just the quality that we’ve got in the team, that excites me. It’s refreshing to play with these guys. The team is so young, they play with such confidence, such understanding of the game.
‘Here’s not an easy place to come, especially to play the way that you want to play. I’ve won here a few times and we haven’t necessarily played the way that we wanted to play, but today I think we had a good account of ourselves. We defended well and we walked away with the win.’
On his new coach Flick, Rashford added: ‘He is a top coach, a top man manager. He will be delighted with the three points and the confidence that the team showed. The times we got out we looked like a positive team.’
Rashford’s former Man United team-mates Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho were among those to react to his stunning second goal, sharing posts on social media to acknowledge his strike.
Rashford claimed post-match that he is becoming a better play having moved to Barcelona
In the TNT Sport studio, former Chelsea and England star Joe Cole was impressed with Rashford: ‘It’s great to see him do well. What he does on the pitch is superb. When he is at his best, he can be unstoppable. He’s an England star, he could get into any team in the world and you just want to see him enjoying his football tonight. Brilliant from him.’
Newcastle played well but failed to take some early chances, and boss Eddie Howe said: ‘There was a lot of effort, heart and commitment. I thought we were good without being great. We had two big moments to score in the first half and the game then swings on the moment of the first goal.’
Howe did not start with a striker and rested new boy Nick Woltemade, despite him scoring the winning goal on his debut at the weekend.
‘I just have to try and manage his minutes and make sure he stays fit,’ said Howe, who admits fellow striker Yoane Wissa faces ‘a race against time’ to be fit for after the October international break.
