Marcus Rashford Starts on Aston Villa Bench for FA Cup Clash Against Tottenham

Aston Villa’s new signing Marcus Rashford has been named on the bench for their FA Cup fifth-round tie against Tottenham Hotspur, with Donyell Malen leading the attack in place of the injured Ollie Watkins.

Rashford’s Fresh Start at Villa Park

The 27-year-old forward joined Aston Villa in the final days of the January transfer window after being frozen out at Manchester United by Ruben Amorim. Rashford, who was criticized for his attitude and effort levels at Old Trafford, is now looking to revive his career under Unai Emery.

Despite having trained with his new teammates this week and earning praise from Emery for his “fantastic” attitude, Rashford will start the match on the bench. Malen gets the nod up front, with Jhon Duran no longer an option following his move to Al Nassr.

Villa are also without key players such as Tyrone Mings, Ross Barkley, Pau Torres, and Matty Cash due to injuries. Meanwhile, Axel Disasi, who arrived on loan from Chelsea, is ineligible after featuring in the third round for Enzo Maresca’s side. Marco Asensio joins Rashford on the bench.

Unai Emery’s Take on Rashford’s Arrival

Speaking about his new signing, Emery expressed his excitement:

🗣️ “I’m very happy with the transfer window we had, and I’m very happy with Marcus Rashford. Our conversation was very natural, focused on football. I just want him to perform at his best.

“I don’t need to know the exact reasons why he left Manchester, but I’m happy to have him here and help him recover his top form. My challenge is to bring out the best in him, and his challenge is to thrive with us. It’s an exciting opportunity for both.”

Emery also emphasized the importance of the FA Cup and how special the competition is for both the team and the supporters at Villa Park.

Tottenham’s Injury Woes & Mathys Tel’s First Start

On the other side, Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou is dealing with a long injury list, missing key players such as Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, James Maddison, Dominic Solanke, Brennan Johnson, and Richarlison.

However, he has handed Mathys Tel his first start following the youngster’s loan move from Bayern Munich. Additionally, Lucas Bergvall returns to midfield, while teenager Mikey Moore joins Tel and captain Son Heung-min in the attack.

Can Rashford Make an Impact?

Although Rashford won’t start, he could still play a crucial role off the bench. If Villa manage to progress past Spurs, could this be the beginning of Rashford’s resurgence? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!