Dion Dublin has called Marcus Rashford a ‘nightmare to play against’ and believes the Aston Villa forward could play for any team in world football.
Rashford scored twice as Aston Villa won 3-0 at Preston North End on Sunday to reach the FA Cup semi-finals. The 27-year-old’s goals were his first since signing for Villa on loan from Manchester United in the January transfer window.
Marcus Rashford’s game by numbers vs. Preston [RANK]:
93% pass accuracy
5 shots [🥇]
4 shots on target [🥇]
3 chances created [🥇]
2 big chance created [🥇]
2 goals [🥇]Thriving as Emery’s striker. ⚽️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/uzR8ay6xgP
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) March 30, 2025
After a difficult period at Old Trafford, Rashford has rediscovered his form at Villa Park. He’s averaged a goal or assist every 90 minutes and has helped Unai Emery’s team into the latter stages of the Champions League and FA Cup.
At Preston, he turned from from Lucas Digne’s centre to open the scoring before doubling the lead with a confident penalty at Deepdale.
Former Villa favourite Dublin believes Rashford is capable of playing for any team in world football when full of confidence.
“The confidence to take a penalty like Rashford did is just brilliant. As a defender, he is a nightmare to defend against because you don’t know where he is going to be,” Dublin said to the BBC.
“When he is on it and when you’re giving him what he needs, he can start in any team in world football – that’s how good he is.”
Fellow pundit Micah Richards agreed that Rashford looks like a player reborn in Claret and Blue. The ex-Villa defender said there has been a noticeable shift in Rashford’s body language.
“It was a big move for Rashford going to Villa. Game by game, he is getting better and more confident. You can see in his energy – when you’ve got a manager that believes in you you can do special things.
“His whole body language looks a lot better and it feels like he is confident and when Rashford is confident – that is the best way to shut people up.”
Read – Revitalised Rashford targets FA Cup success with Aston Villa
See more – FA Cup semi-final draw – Crystal Palace face Aston Villa
