ERIK TEN HAG has ordered Marcus Rashford to stay focused to up his goal tally.
Rashford made it four in four since returning from the World Cup, where he scored three for England, with the final goal in a 3-0 win over Bournemouth on Tuesday.
That makes it 15 this season for club and country.
But Manchester United boss Ten Hag clearly feels the 25-year-old’s mind can wander during a game, which results in him missing the chance to get even more goals.
Ten Hag said: “First of all, keep the focus always. It doesn't matter if you are in the game or not in the game, keep focusing on scoring the goal.
“A player like Marcus but others in our squad – Anthony Martial is the same – when they stay in the game, mentally, focused, 100 per cent concentration, they have the skills and only need one moment to change the game in a positive way.
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“If he develops that skill he will score more goals and contribute to a successful season.”
The next step in that season comes against Everton in the FA Cup at Old Trafford on Friday night and like many foreign managers who come to this country, Ten Hag is excited about taking charge of his first game in the competition.
He said: “For me a cup is always special. I know in England the FA Cup has even higher expectations, higher standards than in the Netherlands.
“I like the cup in the Netherlands as well, but it's a different league.
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“In not so many games you can achieve a lot and you have to come away a winner.”
This competition was the springboard for success for Sir Alex Ferguson when he won it in 1990.
But Ten Hag says he can’t yet look that far ahead.
He insisted: “I don't think about that. In this stage of the season you are not looking at that.
“We have to get into a position where you can win something and I know the season is going to be long, especially with such a lot of games ahead.
“When you think too far ahead, you get distracted. You have to focus on the team progress. We have many elements in our game we have to improve.”
Meanwhile, Ten Hag has added Crystal Palace goalkeeper Jack Butland to his squad on loan until the end of the season after Martin Dubravka was recalled to Crystal Palace.
The Red Devils boss said it was vital to have the former Stoke and England international’s experience as back up to David de Gea and Tom Heaton.
He said: “We need three experienced goalkeepers.
"We have some young ones and they do well but we have so many games so you need three good goalies in training but also when problems are coming you need experience in goal to get what you are aiming for.
“I'm really happy with David, it's quite clear, he's our No1, he's a really good performer but there's always something that can happen with David as well and you have to be prepared for that.
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“Last year I had a situation with Ajax where we had three goalies injured and you don't want a position that you play for trophies and you have to put in a young keeper.
"It can kill your season. That's what you have to be prepared for.”
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