Marcus Rashford: Manchester City rejected Manchester United youngster for being 'too small'

The 18-year-old striker scored twice against Midtjylland on Thursday night during his first senior appearance

Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford (Getty Images)

Manchester City rejected rivals Manchester United’s latest break-out star Marcus Rashford because they thought he was too small.

The 18-year-old striker scored twice against Midtjylland on Thursday night after replacing Anthony Martial in the starting line-up for last night’s Europa League round-of-32 second leg.

Rashford’s strikes proved decisive in helping Louis van Gaal’s side turn around a 3-1 aggregate deficit and claim a 6-3 victory over both legs, which sent United through the last-16 of the competition.

The Wythenshawe-born teenager was noticed while playing for Fletcher Moss juniors’ side, just as Wes Brown, Danny Welbeck, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson were before him, and it has emerged that a City scout dismissed him on account of his small frame.

“His brother Dwayne was with him when he came to us,” the club’s secretary, Ron Jamieson, told The Times. “He was touting him to Manchester City at the time but the recruitment officer there did not fancy him because he was a bit on the small side and didn’t pick him up.”

“We took him to [Champion of Champions] tournament and all the scouts were there,” he added. “Everton were very keen and Manchester United.

“It was advantageous for us to push him towards United so he went there and the rest is history.”

Martial, who suffered a hamstring problem in the warm-up prior to Thursday night’s game, will have his fitness assessed before Sunday’s meeting with Arsenal.

If the French striker is deemed unfit, Rashford is likely to start up and make his first league start for the club.