Ex-Aston Villa playmaker on 'mind blowing' Manchester United call over Marcus Rashford

If Rashford makes his Villa bow in the FA Cup fourth round tie, it will be the first time he has ever featured for a club aside from United, after 426 first team appearances at Old Trafford.

The 27-year-old forward had fallen well out of favour at Old Trafford under manager Ruben Amorim, with Rashford training alone and his manager stating he would rather put his 63-year-old goalkeeper coach on the bench ahead of him.

After being linked with Barcelona and AC Milan in the window, Villa made a move for the England international in the wake of Jhon Duran's departure for Saudi Arabia, with Rashford penning a loan deal until the end of the season.

Rashford's switch has prompted a huge swell of debate among fans and pundits, with ex-United defender and Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville insisting he was moving to a 'team in a better place'.

And a former Aston Villa midfielder believes it is a good move for Rashford to re-discover his form and show his United boss he should not have 'embarrassed' him with comments in the media.

But Paul Merson, who played 145 times for Villa, hopes Rashford can get his career back on track - but is still baffled that United and Amorim sanctioned the move.

He said: "Amorim is running out of ideas. What he's done with the Rashford situation is mind-blowing. His job is on the line at this rate. If Rashford gets 10 goals in 10 games - and Man Utd carry on the way they're playing, then the board will be asking: 'What are you doing?'" 

"He might be one of them where the Villa fans and the manager open their arms to him and he will go: 'I'm going to show that Amorim. You bad mouthed me, embarrassed me by saying I wouldn't get in over a 63-year-old goalkeeper coach'.

"I think he can come back. It could end very badly for Amorim - he would be under severe pressure if they keep playing badly and Rashford starts ripping it up at Villa. He won't be the Manchester United manager for long!"

"I hope he gets it sorted for Villa and the lad's sake - because his career will finish quickly if it doesn't. He's been given an unbelievable opportunity at a great club and he has to take it. It's not the case of turn up, different shirt, it will be alright. I don't know about it, I hope they do get it right."