MARCUS RASHFORD HAS EMBARRASSED MAN UNITED AR ASTON VILLA AFTER DOING TWO THINGS

Marcus Rashford left Manchester United on a loan basis when he joined Aston Villa in the January transfer window

Marcus Rashford(Image: Getty Images)

Marcus Rashford made another impact in an Aston Villa shirt on Friday night as he delivered an assist for Marco Asensio's opening goal in the eventually comfortable 2-0 win over Cardiff City in the last 16 of the FA Cup at Villa Park.

Rashford has caught the eye during the opening weeks of his Villa spell; while he awaits his first goal in Villa colours, he was electric when inspiring their comeback in the recent victory over Chelsea, on an evening when he set up both goals from fellow January arrival Asensio in the second half.

While three assists in six appearances so far is a fair return for a player who is still getting back up to speed having encountered a difficult few months at Manchester United prior to his move to Villa, the bare numbers produced by Rashford have been defining and point to a prosperous period in the weeks to come.

For many, the manner of Rashford's departure from Old Trafford will be regrettable; in 2022/23, Rashford scored 30 goals and produced nine assists in all competitions for the Red Devils and received a lucrative and lengthy contract on the back of that return, but Rashford has been frozen out by new manager Ruben Amorim and would appear to have no future.

Rashford's disillusionment at United could prove to be Villa's gain; two separate statistics have emerged since Rashford's Villa debut against Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup on the 9th of February - one being that no other Premier League has created more goalscoring opportunities than his 13 in that period.

Specifically in the cup tie with Cardiff, Rashford created six chances over the course of the evening - that number in a single match equalled the highest number of chances he produced at any point in his 426 appearances for United (that game was also in the FA Cup against Wigan a year ago).

Unai Emery is clearly helping Rashford to rediscover his very best attacking and creative form in a Villa shirt and is, on a weekly basis, rather making a mockery of United's and Amorim's decision to ease him out of the first-team environment and, ultimately, out of the club - not that Villa will be complaining having taken advantage of the situation.

- Joseph Chapman

MARCO ASENSIO SPEAKS OUT ON ASTON VILLA TRANSFER AS PRIVATE CHAT REVEAL

Aston Villa have signed Marco Asensio on loan from Paris Saint-Germain for the remainder of the campaign

Marco Asensio (Image: PSG via Getty Images)

Marco Asensio 'loves' Unai Emery's brand of football and believes that will help him seamlessly adapt to life at Aston Villa.

The 29-year-old was confirmed as the club's fourth winter window arrival following Donyell Malen, Andres Garcia and then Marcus Rashford on Sunday evening. Asensio's parent club Paris Saint-Germain are thought to be open to allowing the Spain international to extend his stay into next season if Villa would like to.

"I am really looking forward to being able to continue, to being able to contribute, to add to this great club, to this team," Asensio told Villa TV. "Like I’ve said, with eagerness and lots of excitement.

"Unai is a coach I have known for a while, he’s had a great career, he’s a top coach. He’s been really key in me being able to come here because his idea of how he wants to play football, I love it, it suits me perfectly. He’s a really important person as to why I am here right now.

"I'm most looking forward to meeting all of my team-mates, to training with them and to learn the idea that the coach wants me to learn quickly and above all to debut in the stadium. I have been told it is an amazing atmosphere which you can feel in every game.

"I’ve got experience of Champions League games and games which are decided on fine margins. I am really looking forward to them and the atmosphere here. From what I have seen on television and from what the players told me, like Pau, it’s something incredible.

"Lots of my teammates have spoken about the Premier League and said it is the best league in the world because it is competitive and that every game is difficult and the level is very high.

"I am looking forward to measuring myself against the best teams in the world every week and that’s something for a player like me, it’s an objective in my career and I am pleased that I can achieve it now."

Asensio revealed that he spoke with fellow Spain international Pau Torres ahead of joining Villa.

"Yes, we talked when I was already coming to Birmingham," he added. "I let him know I was on my way, I was coming to this club and he congratulated me and I am looking forward to playing together and enjoying this great club together."

- John Townley, Aston Villa correspondent

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