Marcus Rashford’s loan move from Manchester United to Aston Villa in the final days of the winter transfer window has breathed new life into his game.

Since joining Unai Emery’s squad, Rashford has featured in all nine matches, mainly as a substitute, and has already provided four assists from the left wing. His latest contribution came in Wednesday’s victory over Club Brugge, where he set up Marco Asensio for Villa’s third goal, sealing their place in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Despite not yet finding the net himself, Rashford’s performances have been widely praised, with Gary Lineker the latest to weigh in. Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker said: “Rashford looks like he’s enjoying himself and looks sharp and dangerous every time I see him play, and very creative.”

His resurgence hasn’t gone unnoticed by his former teammates either. Several Manchester United players, including Alejandro Garnacho, Amad, Bruno Fernandes, Christian Eriksen, and Diogo Dalot, showed their support by liking his Instagram post after the Brugge match. Former United stars such as David De Gea, Anthony Martial, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka also joined in.

Even Man United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe acknowledged Rashford’s upturn in form during a recent BBC interview. “He’s moved out of Manchester, and maybe that’s a good thing for him,” Ratcliffe stated. “I’m very pleased he is doing well. He’s got tremendous talent, but for whatever reason, it wasn’t working in Manchester over the last couple of seasons.”

Rashford’s time at Villa so far has been a reminder of his quality, and with his confidence growing, both United and Villa fans will be watching closely to see what comes next.