CHRIS WHEELER: Former Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy is Rashford's secret weapon... Marcus's attack coach has helped him become more confident, direct, and adept at heading.

 

Benni McCarthy, a former Blackburn Rovers striker, is an important player at Manchester United.

The South African's attacking coaching has been well received by strikers.

McCarthy only recently joined United's backroom staff under Erik ten Hag.

On Sunday, Manchester United fans could be heard singing Benni McCarthy's name among the usual chants echoing around Old Trafford.

It is unusual for a member of a club's backroom staff to be honored in this manner, but McCarthy is not your typical coach.

Since joining Erik ten Hag's staff last summer, the 45-year-old South African has been widely credited with helping to revitalize Marcus Rashford's career.

McCarthy, according to United sources, is just one of several key figures in Team Ten Hag, but the former Blackburn and West Ham striker was brought in specifically to improve the forwards, and there is no doubt that he has played a role in Rashford's sensational form.

The 25-year-brace old's against Leicester on Sunday brought his season total to a career-high 24, including 16 in his last 17 games.

This season, Marcus Rashford has been in the best shape of his career at Manchester United.

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Rashford's newfound success has been aided by former Blackburn player Benni McCarthty

One-on-one sessions with McCarthy have helped Rashford develop into a more confident, direct striker, as well as improved his heading, resulting in emphatic victories over Leeds and West Ham.

'He's definitely helped me a lot,' England international Harry Kane said in November. 'Having attack-minded coaches is beneficial to us. He's always talking to us about these issues.'

After spending some time away from the club over the New Year, Jadon Sancho, United's other scorer on Sunday, asked to work one-on-one with McCarthy, and Anthony Martial also values McCarthy's advice.

Ten Hag explained the decision to bring in McCarthy last month, saying, 'In our coaching staff, we had a lot of defenders and midfield players. I was looking for a good balance. As a former striker, he is offensive-minded, which is also a very specific task in the team. I never played there, so I consider myself fortunate to have someone on my staff who did. Football is all about scoring points. You have a goalkeeping specialist, but you also have offensive specialists, and we have a scoring coach in particular.'

McCarthy has aided Rashford's all-around game, including his attacking heading ability.

Another United forward who has enjoyed McCarthy's methods is Jadon Sancho.

Rashford and Sancho will continue to investigate the advantages of working with McCarthy.