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Manchester United star Marcus Rashford's brilliant season is no novelty - he honed his skills in 'The Cage' with Paul Pogba

If Marcus Rashford looks at home alongside the world’s most expensive footballer, it’s because this season is no novelty.

He might still be raw, but nowhere near the unpolished Rashford who started playing with Paul Pogba at just 12 in ‘The Cage’ at Carrington - a freestyle game where anything goes.

The Manchester United academy staff wanted to see the wiry Rashford practice his tricks against older players. Pogba was one, Jesse Lingard another. Ravel Morrison too. All faced up to a striker who Jose Mourinho affectionately still labels ‘The Kid’.

Marcus Rashford's rise can be traced back to his days in Manchester United's youth teams
Marcus Rashford's rise can be traced back to his days in Manchester United's youth teams
Rashford started playing with Paul Pogba at 12 in u2018The Cageu2019 at Carrington - a freestyle game
Rashford started playing with Paul Pogba at 12 in ‘The Cage’ at Carrington - a freestyle game
The drag back  to fire United into the Europa League semi-finals was a moment from the cage
The drag back to fire United into the Europa League semi-finals was a moment from the cage

Not a bad education for someone who fondly looked back on his ‘street’ upbringing this week.