After 20 months away from Manchester United, Marcus Rashford is making an emphatic case that his best form has returned. Following loan spells at Aston Villa and Barcelona, the 28-year-old forward has looked revitalised in the opening three fixtures of the Premier League campaign, re-establishing himself as one of United’s primary attacking threats.

Explosive Dribbling and Creative Output

Rashford's sharp footwork and acceleration were on full display during Sunday’s trip to Everton. In the 21st minute, Rashford brought down a floated pass from Bryan Mbeumo, glided past right-back Merlin Rohl, and cut the ball back into dangerous territory for Diogo Dalot and Matheus Cunha.

That sequence highlighted two defining metrics from his strong start to the season: dribbling and chance creation. Rashford has completed six dribbles in three appearances, a tally bested by only five players across the entire Premier League, including Tottenham Hotspur's Mathys Tel (10) and Omar Marmoush (7), as well as Julio Enciso, Abdul Fatawu, and Tyrique George (all on 7).

Furthermore, Rashford has created eight chances—level with team captain Bruno Fernandes—ranking behind only Chelsea's Morgan Rogers (10), Manchester City's Rayan Cherki (10), and Nottingham Forest's James McAtee (9) across the division.

Reigniting the Luke Shaw Connection

A crucial factor in Rashford's resurgence has been the revival of his long-standing partnership on the left flank with Luke Shaw. Prior to this season, the duo had played 213 matches together dating back to the 2016-17 campaign. During Rashford's 30-goal season in 2022-23, Shaw was a constant presence, making 47 appearances.

Across the opening three matches, Rashford and Shaw have exchanged 57 passes—the second-highest tally between any United teammates, behind only Bruno Fernandes and Youri Tielemans (59). More importantly, the passes have been incisive: Rashford has completed five progressive passes to Shaw, while Shaw has reciprocated with five progressive passes to Rashford.

Purposeful Play

Rashford’s attacking contributions have consistently created openings. Against Ipswich Town, he produced a nutmeg on Marcelino Nunez and a sharp dragback in the box against Darnell Furlong. Earlier, after coming off the bench against Hull City, he beat Cody Drameh to set up an opportunity for Kobbie Mainoo.

While he has yet to register a goal or an assist in the opening three matches, the speed, confidence, and tactical sharpness displayed by Rashford indicate that the England forward is rapidly rediscovering the devastating form of his peak years at Old Trafford.