Marcus Rashford scored two goals in his first Premier League game for Manchester United against Arsenal at Old Trafford in February 2016. It was clear that this was the start of something great.

A boy from the area who went to United’s college and learned how to play made it to the first team and did it in style. After seven and a half years, Rashford is a real United star with all the fame that comes with it.

His career has been going up, but there have been some big times when it has at least stopped moving forward.

So, it was during one of those slumps that he played his 250th Premier League game against Luton Town. 

At 26 years and 11 days, Rashford became the youngest United player to hit that milestone. He beat Ryan Giggs by 156 days, though it is important to note that Giggs played a lot of games in the old First Division before the Premier League started.

Rashford was down after getting sent off in Copenhagen last week, and he had a lot of room to improve since he had only scored one goal in 15 games this season.

It was something that manager Erik ten Hag said in his Friday press meeting before the game. The United boss said, “I think he is not happy and we are not happy.” And right now he’s not at his best because he has big hopes for himself. He’ll be back, and I’m sure he’ll play better and score more goals when the team does. I have no doubt about that.

“This season he will get better and score goals.” Everything is clear to him, so he will get back on track.

That’s easier said than done for a team that has lost nine of its first 17 games this season, which makes them feel down. Rashford’s comeback won’t happen right away.

Even though United only beat Luton 1-0, he was in most of their best moments. That doesn’t say much, though. Ten Hag’s team was dull and predictable, and their winning goal came from an unusual source: Victor Lindelof.

Just before the hour mark, Rashford helped make it happen. He had quickly switched places with Alejandro Garnacho at the start of the second half when Bruno Fernandes’ corner was cleared to the edge of the box. He then moved back to the right side of the field. 

Rashford had a cross-shot blocked, but Lindelof was able to score from close range after Mason Mount passed the ball to him.

The Swede had played with Harry Maguire because he is better with his left foot than Raphael Varane’s, but he scored an important goal with his right foot this time.

Antony, who replaced Garnacho, played Rashford in after 69 minutes, giving United’s best chance to add to their lead. However, Rashford’s shot straight at goalie Thomas Kaminiski showed that he wasn’t feeling confident at the time.

When Rashford plays off the left wing, he can cut inside, but when he plays on the right, he can cross with his better foot, and it almost paid off twice in the first half.

The first time was in the 10th minute when Harry Maguire sent a pass down the field. He then sent in a cross that Gabe Osho missed but found Rasmus Hojlund, whose shot off his thigh missed Kaminiski. 

After thirty minutes, Fernandes sent a corner kick to the back post, where Rashford hit it with a first-time strike and it went back across goal. It could have gone anywhere after hitting Osho and going out for another corner.

He was still deep into extra time when Tom Lockyer made a bad tackle on him on the edge of the Luton box, stopping a good run. The visitors’ captain got a yellow card for his mistake.

So United got a win they really needed, and Rashford played better than usual. He is now going on international service. His last game for England was against Italy last month, and he scored.

There are tougher football games in the world than the one between Malta and North Macedonia. Rashford needs to score a few more goals to feel better about himself.