Unai Emery gives update on Marcus Rashford’s future after scoring first Aston Villa goals | Football

Unai Emery says he is yet to make a decision on signing Marcus Rashford permanently after he finally scored his first Aston Villa goals in the FA Cup.

Villa have booked their place in the FA Cup semi-finals after easing to a 3-0 victory at Preston North End on Sunday.

Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, started up top ahead of Ollie Watkins and Donyell Malen, and rewarded his manager’s faith by finding the back of the net early in the second-half before scoring from the spot a few minutes later.

Jacob Ramsey added the third goal later on, with the Villans now set to face Crystal Palace at Wembley for a place in the final.

Rashford has been under immense scrutiny since getting exiled from United’s first-team by Ruben Amorim and leaving his boyhood club in the January transfer window.

He’s looked lively at Villa Park, with two goals and four assists in 10 appearances, though some remain unconvinced about the England international.

Emery has the option to sign the 27-year-old permanently in the summer for £40million but despite his bright start, the manager says the forward still has to improve and no decision has been made on his future.

‘Not yet. The most important thing is the challenge now and this afternoon, recovering and then preparing for the match against Brighton tomorrow,’ the Villa boss said of the matter in his post-Preston press conference.

‘Still there are a lot of matches to play. If we are in the Champions League, if we are in the Europa League, if we are in the European Conference League or not in Europe or winning a trophy, it is completely different.

‘A decision about each individual players… it is to get the best of them and the best of us. We don’t want to waste time thinking about it.’

Villa also have PSG’s Marco Asensio and Chelsea’s Axel Disasi on loan and should Emery also want to buy them outright, it could make a permanent transfer for Rashford more difficult.

The United loanee is set to get more chances to prove his worth with Villa still in the FA Cup and Champions League and pushing to finish as high as possible in the Premier League.

‘Firstly, his commitment to work and adapt quickly is very important. He is doing it,’ Emery said of Rashford’s performance.

‘To feel comfortable playing at his best level, there is still work to do. Weeks to get it. Today, he did one step forward, feeling comfortable, gaining confidence and scoring goals.

‘There is still work to do and adaptation to get together, the teammates and himself. Today, I think this was one step forward.

‘He was coming here in the last two months not training consistently and not feeling very fit in the first matches with us. After playing more and with the national team, it has helped him to feel better. Today was confirmation of his progression with us.’

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