BURTON-ON-TRENT -- Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford wants to emulate Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo but says building a unique identity is crucial for success -- both for himself and England.
Rashford is already an important figure for club and country, but he admits he is still learning after a whirlwind rise since his United debut 19 months ago.
The 19-year-old is focused on finding his own way as a player, but he is happy to take inspiration from the usual suspects, including former teammate Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo, who he played against in United's 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the European Super Cup.
"Ronaldo in the Super Cup -- he was only on for 20 minutes or so but if you look at his movement and how he's changed to what he is now, it's amazing how he still continues like he does," Rashford said, when asked to name the best player he had played with or against.
"Ronaldo, Messi, Rooney, Neymar -- everyone knows good football when they see it and that's what I like to watch as well. You try to take things from them, especially when you're young, until you find your own identity. You try to emulate those players a lot and they're the things that make you into the player you are. It's hard to name a specific aspect but you can take things like mentality.
Looking back at previous idols, Rashford added: "Brazilian Ronaldo has had the biggest World Cup performances, I'd say. And his were among the most enjoyable to watch. There were a lot of top players who performed in the World Cup and went to another level."
One area where Rashford is determined to do things his own way is free kicks.
He scored a brilliant free kick winner against Celta Vigo in the Europa League last season but asked if he was copying Ronaldo's "knuckleball" style, he said: "No, it's actually a different technique. I can do it like he does it but I haven't done that [in a match] yet."
Rashford is expected to win his 12th England cap in Thursday's World Cup qualifier against Slovenia at Wembley, where victory will guarantee the Lions a place at next summer's tournament.
The teenager says that building an identity with the national team, too, is the best way to win in Russia and he believes Gareth Southgate's squad is on the way to doing so, despite having to be practical in qualifying.
"It's difficult. We're only together 10 days at a time. There's not much time to find that identify but we're doing our best to do it, and go to Russia with a plan to win the tournament. We're realistic with how we're playing against the teams in the qualifiers and we have to build a plan when we get to the tournament," he said.
"Around the hotel, everyone feels comfortable and relaxed to be themselves. That's something that I would say is different to last time. Everyone is being themselves and we're starting to understand each other more.
"At internationals, you don't get much time together to understand each other's personalities and what they like do outside. The more we understand each other, the better the results will be on the pitch.
"That was from the manager himself, that was one of the things he wanted to install. As players we've bought into it, and hopefully we can get the results. He is always good with the young players coming through. Obviously he's worked with the Under-21s before -- he knows how to deal with young players."
But he conceded: "When you're there, it's all about winning. In tournament football, it doesn't matter how you win or how it looks to the people. Obviously if you win well, it's better but if we went there and didn't play our best football but came back with the trophy, we'd take it."
If Rashford goes to Russia, it will be his second major tournament with England after he was a surprise inclusion in Roy Hodgson's squad for Euro 2016 -- an experience he does not remember fondly.
"I'll be honest with you, it is difficult to see it as a positive when you're losing because in those games you don't have the chance to get it back. If it's for your club and it's a league game, if you lose a game you have another game next week and you can kind of redeem yourself.
"It's not like that at tournament football and that's why it was so, so disappointing and hard to take. I think since then, you know as a group we've got a new manager, new staff. The players are gelling in a whole different way compared to what we was then.
"I think the set-up and the aim and vision of where we want to go is much better now than what it was."