Manchester United prodigy Marcus Rashford out to prove being in the middle matters at Feyenoord

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Jose Mourinho is not a fan of Thursday nights. His belief is that they are not designed for football. Unfortunately for him, it is where Manchester United find themselves right now.

His squad will arrive back from Rotterdam - where they face Feyenoord in the Europa League - on Friday morning and have one full session before Watford away this weekend. A midday kick-off down south.

‘Sunday Morning Football,’ as Mourinho labelled it to Sportsmail this week. He wants added protection from the relevant authorities but realises it will not be forthcoming.

Marcus Rashford (centre) celebrates scoring his winner at Hull City last month

Jose Mourinho (centre) speaking to Zlatan Ibrahimovic in training, 'trusts' Rashford

Rashford (right) fights for possession against Bacary Sagna in the Manchester derby

The 18-year-old finds space as a packed Old Trafford watches the prodigious talent in play

So United will be much-changed from the team which was so far off Manchester City during a quite demoralising first 40 minutes at Old Trafford last Saturday. Mourinho knows he must rotate if they are to keep pace in the Premier League.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan is missing with a thigh strain, while Jesse Lingard’s has been left at home alongside Wayne Rooney after the City defeat.

One man certain to start is Marcus Rashford. In all likelihood through the middle, where he belongs. Zlatan Ibrahimovic - ‘the big guy’ as his manager affectionately calls him - might have enjoyed four days off over the international break but there is the potential for him to sit on the bench for this.

Whichever way - a two up front, three or a straight swap - it represents an opportunity for Rashford, not 19 until the end of next month, to start for the first time under his new manager.

Regardless of how well he performs at De Kuip on Thursday evening, more spaces in Mourinho’s XI are almost guaranteed after encouraging displays against Hull City and then their local rivals.

Mourinho likes Rashford leading the line and is of the mind that he is an out-and-out striker with an eye for goal and ghosting movement on the shoulder of the last man.

Rashford (centre) shares a joke in training ahead of facing Feyenoord in the Europa League

The striker wheels away in celebration having scored a last gasp winner at Hull City

Rashford has impressed his manager Mourinho with his opening performances this season

Rashford's late winner at Hull City sparked jubilant scenes amongst the away fans last month

He is not wrong, and as such the plan for the teenager was to be used as a first change for Ibrahimovic. Yet Mourinho’s thinking appears to be altering having watched others flounder in recent weeks.

The Portuguese is more open to trying Rashford from wide than he was previously and that is something which may be seen at Watford. But away in Holland is his real chance to show the extent to which he can impact upon this United campaign.

Such is Rashford’s quality and temperament, everybody around the club seems to already know the answer.

Rashford is acknowledged by Mourinho after a pre-season clash with Galatasaray

The 18-year-old is set to start for the first time under Mourinho in Holland on Thursday night

‘The next big game is against Feyenoord and he is going to play,’ Mourinho said. ‘I trust him completely. I know his future will be absolutely brilliant.

‘He is mainly a No 9 and if you want to play him in different positions, we need to work him, we need to improve him, but his big personality is there.

‘Normally, people look to the football talent but the personality at this level is very, very important and he was showing that last season, he was showing that immediately.’

It bodes well for Rashford, who himself became an immediate topic of conversation when Mourinho arrived at Carrington given the new manager’s previous record with young stars.

Rashford claims that he was inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo's training ethic at the club

The refusal to land another striker this summer sent a message that the trust was there but his energy off the bench since has forced Mourinho’s hand more than even he perhaps realised it would.

The thirst to know everything there is to about players within weeks of them bursting onto the scene means we are well aware of Rashford’s story. The way he handles himself around the training ground, how close he is to his mother Mel and that there had been doubts over his physique in the academy.

Something new popped up this week, though, as Rashford revealed to Inside United that he soaked up Cristiano Ronaldo’s daily routine as a crib sheet for his own career little under a decade ago.

‘When Cristiano Ronaldo came to United, he was the one who everyone looked up to,’ Rashford said.

Ronaldo enjoyed a trophy laden spell at Manchester United from 2003-2009

‘The thing that impressed me the most was the fact he was only young when he came into the side and he wanted to be the best player in the side.

‘He worked hard every single day, you saw him in the gym every single day and the results came on the pitch. He openly wanted to be the best player in the world.

‘You have to have an approach like that - all the best players in the world do. It's not arrogance or anything like that, it's the mindset you need to achieve things.’

Ronaldo is one who redefined himself as he grew older, turned from winger to imposing central figure. Rashford could go the opposite direction at United this season as Mourinho tries to find a spot, but he will be out to prove being in the middle matters at Feyenoord.