The Red Devils youngster was England's hero with an assist and a goal in the 2-1 win over Slovakia during the international break.

Three Lions boss Southgate likened the forward's ability to play up top or on the left to that of Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008.

The trio spearheaded Sir Alex Ferguson's side's march to the Champions League title in 2007/08.

They would chop and change across the front three and the England manager is confident Rashford could occupy that flexible role.

Southgate said: “I am sure he would rather be compared with Rooney and Owen than not.

"He is obviously a different type of player.

"He is as mature as they were in terms of their understanding of the game and the way he picks up concepts.

“I think he can play [up front], but you saw what he is capable of here and in Malta on the other wing.

"If you have flexible forwards who can play across the front line, if you think of United’s great forward line with Rooney, Tevez and Ronaldo, interchanging then it is important.

“Well the great thing is that if you look at our forwards with Dele [Alli], who is only a year older [than Rashford], Harry [Kane] is only a couple of years older.

"We have some really exciting players coming through the under-21s as well.

"We know we can score goals, that is encouraging, and if we get the other bits right then we know we are dangerous in any game.”