Introducing Marcus Rashford, the teenage striker who rescued Manchester United’s European season

The Law of Murphy is no more. The Law of Rashford has engulfed Old Trafford.

Manchester United were right up against it for tonight's Europa League clash with FC Midtjylland. Trailing 2-1, United were already going into the fixture without Chris Smalling. Anthony Martial then injured himself in the warm-ups, at Old Trafford, and an emergency replacement was drafted in. His name is Marcus Rashford and he was born in October 1997. The 18-year-old was included in the United squad to face Watford earlier in the season but did not make it off the bench. Once he got his start, he definitely took it. With United 1-1 on the night and trailing on aggregate, Rashford slotted home a Juan Mata pull-back. It sent the home side into raptures. And he wasn't finished there. With 15 minutes on the clock, Rashford coolly dispatched a cross to put his side 3-1 up and ahead on aggregate. Making it look easy... The game finished 5-1 after Ander Herrera converted a late penalty and Memphis added another for good measure. Rashford scored six goals in 11 games for United's Under 18 side before a December promotion to the U21s. The Manchester native has also scored three times in the Uefa Youth League. Earlier this season, United academy boss Nicky Butt, who has worked closely with Rashford said:

"Marcus is explosive, he’s a very talented boy but a good, hard worker as well. He’s a good lad to have in the side because he puts a shift in for the team. He’s explosive and he scores goals."

After he was called up for that away trip to face Watford, Rashford was handed the squad number of 39.