FA Cup winner Joe Hart said Marcus Rashford’s penalty for Aston Villa against Preston North End in the 2025 quarter-finals “tells you all about where he is right now” after the Manchester United loanee ended a wait of almost four months for a goal.
Former United top scorer Rashford netted for the first time since striking twice in United’s 4-0 home win over Everton in the Premier League on December 1, which was Ruben Amorim’s first home game in charge and prefaced the Portuguese exiling the 27-year-old from his squad before agreeing to let him join Villa on February 2.
“That is the epitome of confidence,” said Hart, who won the 2010/11 FA Cup as Manchester City’s goalkeeper, speaking to BBC Sport.
“You can just see the confidence oozing through Marcus Rashford. The way he took that penalty tells you all about where he is right now.
“He waited and waited. The goalkeeper stands as long as he possibly can – Rashford’s watching the goalkeeper [David Cornell], waiting for him to move. He waits until the very, very last split second. He’s not even looking at the ball.”
‘The epitome of confidence’ 🥶
Marcus Rashford scores his second in five minutes with a no-look penalty from the spot. #BBCFootball #FACup pic.twitter.com/31UuSFwKE3
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) March 30, 2025
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Preston vs Aston Villa: Rashford goals ‘reward’
Rashford converted from the spot in the 63rd minute after Andrew Hughes was adjudged to have fouled Morgan Rogers, doubling his side’s lead after slotting in his first from Lucas Digne’s left-wing cross five minutes earlier and opening his Villa account on his 10th appearance for the club, although he has contributed four assists in all competitions.
“He’s been waiting a long time, but it looks like he’s finally got his reward,” Hart said of the opener. “Lucas Digne times his run absolutely perfectly on the left, plays a lovely ball in and it’s a comfortable, easy finish for Marcus Rashford, but one he wants to get out of the way.
“It was another example of him being spatially aware. He picks his point in the box and times his run to perfection; he creates the ease of that chance with the timing of his run.”
Marcus Rashford has his first goal for Aston Villa and they lead at Preston! ✅#BBCFootball #FACup pic.twitter.com/aD9KYeS6ux
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) March 30, 2025
Rashford Villa goals ‘just the tonic’
“Regardless of what anyone’s said about [him] at Manchester United and going to Aston Villa, everyone has always said there’s a quality player there,” added Hart.
“He is a top-quality player. He’s played excellently since he’s put that Aston Villa shirt on. The loan move seems to be just the tonic he needed.”
Jacob Ramsey fired in to put Villa 3-0 ahead in the 71st minute and firmly on course for the semi-finals at the expense of the Championship club.
Rashford, who started twice in England’s Fifa 2026 World Cup qualifiers this month after being called up for the first time in a year, has won the FA Cup twice.
The United academy product triumphed with his parent club in 2015/16 and 2023/24, as well as helping them reach the 2018 and 2023 finals.
