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