Jose Mourinho makes prediction about Marcus Rashford at Man United

Jose Mourinho is tipping Marcus Rashford to enjoy a brilliant third season in the Manchester United first team next term.

The England striker has struggled to produce consistent performances for the Red Devils this season after initially breaking into the first team at Old Trafford under Louis van Gaal last term.

Rashford earned plenty of new admirers after he produced a series of sparkling performances in the second half of last season and even earned a call-up to the England squad for Euro 2016.

However, the striker has failed to hold down a regular starting spot in the Manchester United first team this season under Mourinho.

But the Portuguese coach is tipping the teenage striker to enjoy a brilliant season next term as he comes to terms with the pressure of playing for the Manchester United first team.

“I knew that it would be a very difficult season for him after the season of the surprise,” Mourinho told Sky Sports.

“The season without pressure, the season where nobody demands, that nobody knows him, he comes in and makes an impact, he feels free. He is just a kid that is enjoying his football.

“The second season was always going to be a difficult one.

“I think the third season is going to be the good one again. The third season is one with more maturity, he can build on his experiences so I am sure the third season will be better than the second.

“The second season is the difficult one. It’s the pressure, it’s the people that knows him, it’s the expectation.

“Is he a national team player? Is he in the line-up for the club? Should he go to the Euro 21 [European Under-21 Championship] or no? Having all these things around him doesn’t give him an easy season, but he is a good kid, a good humble boy, he tries to learn with every experience.

“We had a nice conversation where he told that even in the dressing room at half-time he learns, so he is a good kid with a good mentality.”

Manchester United take on Middlesbrough in their next Premier League game on 19 March.