‘Not acceptable’… Alan Shearer reacts after seeing what 26-year-old Manchester United player did vs Newcastle

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Alan Shearer has claimed that Manchester United star Marcus Rashford is lacking desire and is unhappy after watching him against Newcastle United on Saturday.

Erik ten Hag‘s side are having a difficult season. They have lost six of their first 14 games in the Premier League this term, and their hopes of getting into the next round of the Champions League are hanging by a thread as well. Rashford, who was so good last season, has been disappointing this campaign.

Alan Shearer reacts to Manchester United star Marcus Rashford’s performance vs Newcastle

Manchester United were terrible against Newcastle United on Saturday, and Marcus Rashford, like many of his teammates, had a night to forget.

The 26-year-old Englishman had just 22 touches all game and completed only 11 of his 17 attempted passes. He lost possession nine times as well, but that wasn’t the most disappointing part of his performance.

There were moments in the game at St James’ Park where Rashford just seemed disinterested. He wasn’t tracking back like he should have and cut a frustrated figure for large parts of the game.

Shearer has now claimed that it is unacceptable for a homegrown player to do that while representing his club at the top level.

He wrote in The Athletic: “I don’t know if Marcus Rashford has fallen out with the manager, if he’s at odds with some of his team-mates or if he doesn’t like the position he’s playing, but judging by everything I saw on Saturday in the defeat against Newcastle United, I know there’s an unhappy player there.

“Don’t get me wrong, you’re allowed a bad game or a poor touch. You’re allowed not to be happy with yourself or those around you every now and again, too, but you can’t have a few poor performances in a row. You can’t have a bad run. And if — or when — you do, you have to still put in the work.

“One thing that’s not acceptable is not running around, not tracking back and not looking bothered. That goes for any player, but especially one local to the club. Fans know they would try to cover every blade of grass if given a chance to wear the shirt and as their embodiment on the pitch, that’s the least they expect from you.

“Whether Marcus likes it or not, I and many others watching him at the weekend — whether they were Manchester United fans or not — saw a player lacking in desire.”

Marcus Rashford isn’t Manchester United’s only problem

Yes, Marcus Rashford should be doing much better than he has done this season, but so should so many other Manchester United players.

Even the manager, Erik ten Hag, deserves a lot of blame for the way he has handled things, and his tactics in certain games have been very questionable as well.

Manchester United have won just three of their last eight games in all competitions. They have a difficult game against Chelsea coming up next, while fixtures against Bayern Munich and Liverpool are not too far away either.

The next few weeks could be decisive for Ten Hag. If Manchester United don’t return to winning ways, he could well be shown the door.