Marcus Rashford "lacks the killer instinct" to lead Manchester United's attack, according to the Premier League's all-time record goalscorer Alan Shearer.
England international Rashford made it two goals in two games since returning to club action following the World Cup break with his strike against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old now has 10 goals in 21 games this season, double his tally from the whole of last season in 32 matches and twice as many as any United team-mate this term.
Rashford is on course for his best scoring campaign, but Shearer has urged Erik ten Hag to continue fielding the versatile attacker out wide and bring in a new out-and-out striker.
"I think Marcus enjoys it more, he looks better certainly in the position [on the left] we saw tonight," Newcastle United great Shearer told Amazon Prime.
"He's been given a little bit of freedom – if he wants to go down the middle at times, he can.
"But when he's got all that space to run into from out wide, he's a better player in doing that and he's very, very good at doing that.
"In terms of him being a centre-forward, he lacks the killer instinct, that natural ability to think 'yeah, I'm going to get in there, I'm going to get the two or three yarders'.
"But there's no doubting his ability – he's a fantastic player."
Rashford has five goals in 15 Premier League outings this term, which is already one more than last season and 12 off his career-best tally in the 2019-20 campaign.
Speaking after the 3-0 win over Forest, which moved United within a point of the top four with a game in hand, Rashford declared he is aiming to better his previous high.
However, fellow former striker and now pundit Michael Owen agrees with Shearer's assessment that United still need another new striker in the January window.
"I do feel that Rashford is better on the left, he will contribute a decent number of goals each year," Owen said.
"But he's not going to be the Ruud van Nistelrooy, the Robin van Persie, the Wayne Rooney who scores 30-plus goals a season.
"Obviously he is a huge asset to this football club, gives them something different, gives them pace, gives them directness."
United have scored 23 goals in 15 Premier League games this season at an average of 1.53 per match, which is only the 11th best return in the division.
Despite easing to victory against Forest, Ten Hag admitted after the match he was not entirely satisfied with his side's finishing and reiterated the need for a new striker.
"It's what I said in the dressing room, we have to score more goals," he said.
"We created so many chances and it takes us until just before the end to score the third goal. We need to finish this game in an earlier moment.
"We are looking for offensive players, we are looking for a striker. It would be good because we have games coming, so many, every third day, and it's tough."
Eriksen recovery 'going well' with hope of Man Utd return before end of season
Christian Eriksen is set to step up his recovery from injury as he attempts to at least play some role in Manchester United sealing a potential treble.
The Manchester United midfielder suffered an ankle injury during the FA Cup victory over Reading in January, sparking fears that it would result in a premature end to his maiden campaign at Old Trafford.
However, the Denmark international is optimistic that he can return before United's season – which could result in further honours in the FA Cup and Europa League following their EFL Cup triumph – comes to a close
"Yeah, it is going well. I have just started being outside as you saw [on Instagram] with football boots on," he told the club website.
"And then we take it from there, that is the next step. I have been in the gym for some weeks now and now it is time to do the next rehab session outside."
"I think earlier in my career I would have taken it a lot harder than I do now.
"You learn later on that it's just part of your career. Sometimes you are lucky, sometimes you are not.
"With this one particularly, when I can't do anything myself, when somebody came on to me, the mindset is just getting back as soon as possible in a healthy, strong way and not to get any setbacks."
Zaniolo hits out at Roma for treating him as a 'capital gain'
Nicolo Zaniolo hit out at Roma for "unfulfilled promises" and treating him as a "capital gain" after he joined Galatasaray last month.
Zaniolo left the Eternal City giants to join the Turkish Super Lig leaders for a fee €16.5million early in February.
The Italy midfielder had been expected to move on during the January transfer window, but he turned down a move to Premier League strugglers Bournemouth.
Zaniolo signed a four-year deal with Galatasaray after being left out on in the cold at Roma and the 23-year-old has pointed the finger at his former club over the way he was treated.
He told the Gazzetta dello Sport: "I could talk for hours about unfulfilled promises. They [Roma] told me I was a spearhead, instead I've always been considered just a capital gain.
"For two years I was told that the new contract was ready. In January of last year I would have signed for slightly more than what I was earning, because I was fine in Rome and I knew there were problems with Financial Fair Play. After much talk I'm bored. If I have to reflect on my farewell, I think others must do it too."
Zaniolo was hurt by being called a traitor.
He added: "It's something I'm very sorry about. Roma gave me everything, thanks to Roma I won and I made my debut for the national team, my son was born there. Being labelled that way was a big blow."
Zaniolo continued: "The truth will come out. I'm just saying that I've always trained, even if not with the others."
Much was made of a supposed fall-out between Zaniolo and Jose Mourinho, but the playmaker has no problem with the Roma head coach.
"He's a great coach and a great person," Zaniolo said of his old boss. "He made me play almost always. Sure, he's used to managing star players and I wasn't [one]. I would have liked to have him in four or five years, but he gave me so much anyway."
Courtois to miss Germany friendly due to adductor injury
Thibaut Courtois will miss Belgium's friendly against Germany on Tuesday due to an adductor injury.
The Real Madrid goalkeeper withdrew from the Red Devils squad on Sunday after sustaining a minor strain.
Courtois played in the Red Devils' 3-0 victory over Sweden in their opening Euro 2024 Group F qualifying match at Friends Arena on Friday.
The former Chelsea keeper will not face Germany in Cologne, though, after returning to Madrid.
Carlo Ancelotti will be hoping Courtois is fit when Los Blancos return to action against Real Valladolid in LaLiga next Sunday.
Romelu Lukaku's hat-trick ensured Belgium started Domenico Tedesco's reign as head coach with a resounding victory over Sweden in Solna.
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