Troy Deeney drops Jesse Lingard comparison as Marcus Rashford poised for Aston Villa debut
Troy Deeney believes Aston Villa are taking a ‘low risk’ option in handing Marcus Rashford an escape route from Manchester United – but fears a repeat of the Jesse Lingard experience.
The former Birmingham City captain believes Rashford will get a short-term bounce from being away from Old Trafford but Deeney has expressed doubts that it will be sustained.
Speaking on talkSPORT the ex-striker said it is a risk Unai Emery is willing to take, not just for the player everyone knows Rashford can be – but for the effect it has on the profile of the club.
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Asked whether Rashford can rediscover his best form Deeney said: “Short term, yes, I think he can. I think there'll be a spike. I think Marcus has shown that when managers change, he normally does a little spike and shows you for 5, 6, 7 weeks how good he is and then normal tendencies take place.
“I did a big piece last week in The Sun and I said I would love to do a piece a year from now and say I was absolutely wrong about Marcus Rashford, he's great, he's flying and what a plonker I am. I'd love to do that, it would give me genuine pleasure to do it. I just don't see anything other than the Jesse Lingard path as we currently construct it.
“This move to Aston Villa is the same as when Jesse left Man United and went to West Ham. He did really well for a little while, everyone was like, ‘Oh my God, Jesse's back’. Then the next two years fizzles out….
“I think that's the risk that he's willing to take. I think for Aston Villa in the short term it's a low risk in terms of if he does well, great. If he doesn't do well, we send him back.
“But I also think it gives a profile, they're trying to build Aston Villa to be an even bigger club, socially and as a market space with those two big names. It lifts that club again, shirt sales I'm sure will go up and ticket prices will go up as well accordingly.”
Lingard started out at United, made 232 appearances for them before leaving for Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2022. However, he had little impact at the City Ground and didn't provide a goal or assist in 17 Premier League matches before being released after just one season. He is now playing in the Korean League for FC Seoul where he has been named captain.
Meanwhile details of Rashford's first week at Villa have emerged claiming the 27-year-old has been impressing in training, opting for extra sessions and looking to move down to the West Midlands.
